The Washington times., 1923-10-26
MOVE AIDS
HUGHES
POLICY
teontinued from First Page.)


German reparations paves the way
for q fresh attempt on the part OF
All the world war powers to settle
this controversial issue. and the re-
entry of the United States on the
European stage at the most critical
time since the armistice.
''It paves the way"-this was as
far as officials here would go today
in predicting the outcome OF the Eek
change Of views" between London
and Washington. from appointing an
American member OF such q COM
mission without the consent OF Con-
gress, and thus far Congress has
eteadfastly refused to grant such
permission to the Executive.
Consequently, If the French cen
dition" reported from Paris contem-
plates throwing the dispute back
into the hands Of the PREPARATIONS
commission this Government OBJ
viouely cannot help.
Frances Failure Demonstrates. ;
If, however, q commission OF ex-
perts is formed free Of the repara-
lions commission, this Government
can participate, and At Is this pro-
posal which Secretary Hughes has
deemed expedient to again lay be-
fore the French government at this
critical time.
The move was made at this time,
II was said. because the year that
has elapsed since Secretary Hughes
first proposed the matter has com.
pletely demonstrated Frances in
ability to collect reparations from
Germany under present conditions.
It was resuggested in the hope that
the French now realize this and
win be prepared to take a more
reasonable attitude.
So far as this Government is con-
cerned, it was said at the State De-
partment. It stands exactly in. the
same position announced by Secre@
taEy Hughes q year ago-it believes
q conference Of experts should In
vestigate and advise as to how
much separations Germany Is cap
able of paying, and is willing to
participate in such an investigation,
and attempted settlement.
It was emphasized, however, that
the United States has no intention.
Of entering a general economic
conference" for the attempted SET
tiements of all of Europe's ills, such
as the Inflated Genoa conference
which the United States refused to
attend.
Bars Economic Conference.
This Government took the posi-
ton then. and has not changed since,
that any such conference is fore
doomed to failure because OF the
multitude of conflicting interests In
volved.
But both President Coolidge and
Secretary Hughes believe that a
conference arranged for single pur.
poge-the settlement Of reparatione
can be made to accomplish real re-
suits at time when Europe obvious
~ is laundering around in a chaos
Of hate and political intrigue.
The United States cannot partici-
pate in a settlement of reparationss
by the Inter-AIIied Preparations
Commission. President Coolidge
and Secretary Hughes are specify
caIly prohibited. -.
Status Ii. Unchanged.
The matter rests today, as It.
rested eleven months ago when.
Secretary Hughes first preached
his plan for q commission Of ex-s
perts to determine how much. Ger.
many can pay, with the French,
It was said in official quarters.
First dispatches. from Paris in-
dicated that Premier Poincare and
his "hard-boiled" associates were
softening somewhat In their opposi-
ton to the Hughes Baldwin plan,
but this first optimism was speed
fly dissipated by reports of the
conditions" which the French
would put around their acceptance.
The opinion was expressed that
the sudden publication OF the.
Hughes urZon notes had put the
French government in diplomatic
hole" and that the Conditional ac-
ceptance" announced by the French
foreign office was method of spar
ring for time to examine more close
~ into just what the proposed con-
ference contemplates.
The big point which the United
States will insist upon being alb
solutely and explicitly, clear before
entering the proposed conference Is
that it shall not attempt to deal with
the question OF debts owed by the
allies to the United States.