The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-07
]. $. HOPE TO. AID EUROPE
 FADING
Officials See Little Chance of Change in French Plan For Direct Action--BuSineSS Men May Take Hand
 in Situation

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-The possibility of any development abroad to change the policy of France and bring American aid into the reparations breach in Europe ap- peared tonight to be fading.
 There is reason to believe that , the Washington government not only sees no further opportunity at this time to suggest a way to Franco British reconciliation, but lacks also any intimation that its good offices will be sought, at least in advance of an actual test of the French theories on separations. Once the French plan has been tried and its results demonstrated, the situation with respect to Amer iean aid may change. But there is no doubt that American official opinion is gravely concerned lest there be political chaos and com plete economic breakdown come in Germany before tha point has been reached.
 Road Kept Open.
 The official attitude in Washington l still is that of sympathetic spec tator with American good offices and economic strength available at any 1 time to allied leaders if they can 1 find a way of reaching out for Amer ican helpfulness. It Is certain that no move will be made here prema- turely or in a way that might create 1 hostile impressions abroad to embar- l rass a later tender of American help, 1 The official silence in Washington probably is significant of a desire to keep the way open for French of | British initiative to seek the aid ol l the United States.
 But while official activities arc thus bampered American business working along it's own line of ap- l proach, apparently is preparing for l new attempts to substitute business l diplomacy for ntergovernmental 1 exchanges in working out a new pro | posal on separations. Officials of i the Chamber of Commerce of the 1 United States, it was learned today are considering renewing their ac- | tivities, halted temporarily while the statesmen agreed to disagree in Paris.
 The foreign affairs committee of the chamber will meet here January 12 and will attend a dinner given by President Julius Barnes in honor of Albert Thomas. director of the interrfe tional labor office at Geneva and formerly French minister of mu- l nitions. That the separations crisis l will be the foremost topic of dis cussion is not doubted. What imme- 1 diate plans may result, none cares to predict, but in MT. Thomas there will be available an immediate chan l mel of communications with French and other European business groups
 Business Meu to Front
 Among members of the chamber foreign affairs committee is A. C. ! Bedford of New York, an official oi the Standard Oil company, and chair | man of the American delegation to the second general meeting of the l International Chamber of Commerce which will be held in Rome in March The preliminary program for that meeting carries statement by MT |. Bedford which Is illustrative of | American business thought. It reads | beleNnlB lHdL lht tine lidS uON l come when business men should as sert the right based upon their interest, to come forward and state l in no uncertain terms that the vital | problems now so seriously disturb ing the peace and prosperity of the | world shall be settled upon sound economic rinciples-principle which will promote the peace and welfare 1 of mankind rather than the popular ity of individuals or political parties l leading business men throughout 1 the world will meet at Rome fol 1 the purpose of discussing frankly 1 and seriously some of the most pressing issues.'
 The reparations situation is al. loted space on the preliminary pro l gram which the American delegation 1 will urge at Rome. Four group dis | oussions as well as two general ses- | sions at which final decisions can bt ] taken are given over to subjects con 1 nected directly with the reparations 1 crisis InteralIied debts is among l the subtopics as we'll as "financia l measures necessary for the restora- | ton of international trade."
 The Chamber of Foreign Affair. includes John Fahy Boston, chair man, and John w. Davies, former I amb ssador to Great Britain.