New Britain herald., 1923-08-17
HUGHES EXPLAINS
ATTITUDE OF U. S.
BritiSherS Are Told Where Ad.
lninistration Stands
ALLOWS NO INFUSION
Secretary of State Sends Clarifying
Statement to Correct Misunder-
standing Said to Have Existed
Abroad.
BY The Agsouiated Press.

ElptoiAN'
BY The Associated Press
Washington. Aug. 17,--To clear
away any misunderstanding in London
regarding the attitude of the Coolidge
administration on reparations, Secre-
tary Hughes has cabed to the Am
erican embassy there the substance of
the story carried from Washington by
'The Associated Press on August 15,
with a notification that the declara-
tions it contained represented the pre-
else position of the United States gov
eminent
This disclosure was made today as
a result of the wide publication of
untrue reports that the state depart
ment had sent to foreign governments
through the American embassies
abroad new note on reparations. The
informatory message to the embassy
in London is the only communication
on reparations which has been sent
abroad by the department.
The message to London was intend
ed to correct a. misapprehension evil
dent In London dispatches which had
indicated that it was felt the Coo
lidge administration had modified to
some extent the previous policy of
Washington relative to participation
in any attempt to settle the repara
tions difficulty. 1t was reaffirmed that
there had been no change whatever
in policy as a result Of the change in
the presidency.
The Associated Press story referred
to, the substance of which was repeat
ed in the dispatch to the London en-
bassy set forth the position of the
United States as follows:
Reports from London refiecting a
feeling that there had been a welcome
change in the attitude of the Wash
ington government toward reparations |
were said on highest authority here |
today to appear altogether too eptim
istic.
Nothing has been said in Wash
ington on behalf of the Coolidge ad-
ministration 1t was pointed out which |
indicates the slightest departure from
the statement made by Secretary
Hughes in his New Haven speech last
December 7
'aThe American viewpoint will not |
zoe determined until plans abroad have
been matured. Any suggestions to the
trary are characterized here as who'll
ly without foundation"
i This outline Of the governments po-
sition, which has been obtained on
the highest authority was communi-
Gated by the Associated Press and by
the foreign news agencies with whom
it co-operates to all parts of Europe,
to the British dominions and to the
Far East. 1t is assumed here that the
wide distribution of this auth oritative
dispatch led to the erroneous report
that the government itself had sent :
out a reparations circular to the for
eign powers.
VIII Consider Proposal.
The effect of this reaffirmation of 1
policy is that the United States is pre-
pared to consider matured proposal
with relation to the reparations prob {
lem provided that proposal is of such s
a character that all legitimate Ameri- ;
can interests would be adequately
protected.
That policy characterized the hand
ling of the reparations matter in
under President Harding
and was disclosed originally in Secre- {
sary Hughes speech at New Haven. 1t
was reaffirmed at the White House
Tuesday on behalf of President Coo
idge.
While Mr.. Hughes message to the
was prompted by the appar- I
mt misunderstanding in the London I
press, it will undoubtedly be COM Il
nunicated informally to the British A
'oreign office in order that no false n
basis for any suggestion to the United Ii
states may be permitted to continue. $
The Washington government is very n
Lnxious to avoid further complicating
he already badly snarled reparations "
and has thus taken steps to
make its own position entirely clear to s
I'll concerned. a