The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-11
PRESS ON PARTICIPATION

fairs of Europe with the represents tives of the powers was offered some months ago by Secretary Hughes through his suggestion that an inter- national committee of inquiry look into Germany's economic situation with view to establishing her ability and capacity to meet separations ob- legations. Now it appears that such a committee is about to be formed, in spite of Frances stipulations restrict ing the inquiry to a consideration of the ability to make present payments, and involving therein the question of international debts. MT. Hughes is quite firm and definite in declaring that the subject of debts is a separate proposition, but the stipulation as to separations installments may be ac- cepted at least in part. Late dis patches from France are somewhat discouraging, but there is always hope up to the very moment of definite refusal.
 As to the responsibility resting upon statesmen in all lands, the New York Times remasks: of small minds fail with large empires, it is certain that they do with large emergencies. One such confronts Europe and Amer ica today, and it is for their states men to approach it with a readiness to make generous concessions and to strive together to encompass the one thing needful. The whole matter has long since passed beyond the stage of a mere controversy between foreign ministers or dispute between na- tions, and has become of central con- cern to the entire civilized world. Diplomatic flourishes and stubborn contentious would be so out of place in the presence of great crisis that 1t IS hard to imagine representative of either France or the United States willing to indulge Tn them to the point of imperilling the entire negotiation.
 The Philadelphia Public Ledger, which forsook the ranks of League of Nations supporters long enough to help into power party opposed to it, now swings back to it's former ale glance and declares: "We have waited too long or not long enough. Half. measures will be dangerous. Once drawn in, no man may foretell the end of commitments. We cannot af- ford to go stumbling across the At lantic, half-blinded concerning aims and consequences. Our course should be charted, for these vague and nut tered hints from Washington, from Paris and London cannot be pieced together and made to serve. The thing is too big to be made diplo matic plaything, tossed behind diplo- matic screens. Its consequences may be too great for millions of Americans to accept 'unsight and unseen.'"
 As to the French fears regarding possible interference with the collec- tion of separations the St. Louis Globe-Democrat reassuringly replies: :: "We are concerned in the maintenance Of peace and the general restoration of economic stability in Europe, and the settlement of the reparations question is essential to both. But we have not interfered, nor have we now any intention of interfering, with the rights of France. We have been scrupulously careful not to place any obstacles in the way of France. and the present proposal grows out of a disposition to be helpful in the solu- tion of a problem that France is ob- viously unable to solve. If France makes such conditions that our help would avail nothing we shall be com pelled to withhold the service. We are interested for the reasons stated. All France can possibly and rightly get from Germany she can have and welcome, so far as we are concerned. We have no thought of putting any limitation on it. If the inquiry pro- posed should place any limitation upon the amount obtainable, it would be fixed by the facts in the case, and not by our wish or action" Perhaps that is just what France fears.
 Regarding the soundness of the Hughes plan the New York Herald calls attention to the fact that moth ing that has been said or written on either side of the Atlantic since the publication of the Hughes note has detracted one iota from it's clarity and wisdom It must have been plain to Europe that on these terms only would the United States consent to lend hand in the job of finding out just what Germany can pay. Eng land quickly and gladly accepted ths Hughes proposal. Italy and Belgium appear to have joined her without conditions. The world now waits for favorable sign from Premier Poin- care. His assent, however, is not nee essary to the finding of Germany $ capacity to pay. And that is all there is in the Hughes plan
 The Chicago Daily News comment of later date finds that "Poincare' s unyielding attitude is due to the ex- clusion of the interallied and AmeYi-