The Washington times., 1924-04-22

TIC HScu " Lihkc COHcoSSLOtlS
and accept friendly counsel.
The Hughes Proposal.
Ins December Of the year Of
1929 our Secretary Of State, Mr..
Hughes, set out the American
proposal In an address which he
delivered at New Haven. That
proposal has now become his.
toric. He recognized that settle
ment Of the PREPARATIONS question
was probably impossible II APP
preached after the method Of q
political problem. It was not so
much a question 20 be. dealt with
by public officers or diplomatic
agencies, which must necessarily
reflect to very marked degree
the political state of mind of the
various countries. but was repre-
sented as one which could DO
solved by the application Of pure
business talent and experienced
private enterprise. To such an
effort OF business men, unham-
pered by every unnecessary po-
htical consideration, Mr.. Hughes
expressed the belief that com.
petent American citizens In pri-
vate life would be ready to lend
their assistance. This position
was consistently maintained. Its
correctness was finally demon
gtrated when Mr.. Dawes, Mr..
Young and Mr.. 6Iobinson were
invited by the reparations COM
mission for that purpose, and
consented to serve.
The finding Of the experts,
which is known as the Dawes re-
port, has recently been made
and published. It shows a great
deal OF research and investiga-
ton, and q broad comprehension
OF the requirements OF the situa-
ton. It has been favorably re-
ceived by the reparations com:
mission. It Is gratifying to I'M
derstand that the allies are look
ing upon 1t with full sympathy,
and Germany has expressed a
willingness to cooperate in the
execution Of the plan. There
appears to be every reason to
hope that the report offers a
basis for a practical solution oG
the reparatiOns problem.
Hopes for Its Full Acceptance.
trust that 1t may commend
itself to all the European gov.
ernments interested as a method
by which, through mutual con-
cessions, they can arrive at a
stable adjustment Of the intricate
and vexatious, problem Of repara-
tons, and that such an outcome
will provide for the restoration
Of Germany and the largest pos
sible payments to the other couu-
tries.
II this result Is secure, the
credit which will be due to the
Secretary Of State, Mr.. Hughes,
to President Harding for adopt-
ing it and supporting it, and to
the three Americans and their
assistants, by whose wisdom and
discretion II was formulated and
rendered so acceptable, will be
sufficient to warrant the lasting
appreciation Of two continents.
A situation at once both intri.
cate and difficult has been met
. In a most masterful way. Our
countrymen are justified in look
ing at the result with great pride.
Nothing Of more Importance to
Europe has occurred since the
armistice.
Part Of the plan contemplates
that a considerable loan should at
once be made to Germany for i'm
mediate passing needs, including
the financing Of a bank. l trust
that private American capital will
be willing to participate in ad-
vancing \this loan. Sound bust
ness reasons exist why We should
participate in the financing of
works Of peace in Europe, though
we have repeatedly asserted that
we were not in favor of advanc.
ing funds for any military pur.
pose. It would benefit our trade
ana commerce, and we especially
hope that 1t will provide a larger
market for our agricultural pro-
duction.
It is notorious that foreign gold
has been flowing into our coun.
try in great abundance. It is alto
gether probable that some of it
can be used more to our finan-
cial advantage in Europe than 1t
can be in the United States. Be-
sides this, there il the humanitar.
ian requirement, which carries
such a strong appeal, and the
knowledge that out of our album
dance it is our duty to help where
help will be used for meeting Just
requirements and the promotion of
. peaceful purpose. We have de-
termined to maintain, and can
maintain, our own political inde-
pendence, but our economic in.
dependence will be strengthened
and increased when the economic
stability Of Europe is restored.
Enduring Peace Is Goal.
We hope further that such a
condition will be the beginning
Of q secure and enduring peace.
Certainly it would remove MANY
OF the present sources Of disa.
greement and misunderstanding
among the European nations.
When this adjustment Is finally
made, and has had sufficient time
Of operation to become q settled
European policy, 1t would Law the
foundation for a further effort at
disarmament in accordance with
the theory Of the Washington con.
ference.
Although that gathering was
able to limit capital battleships, Il
had to leave the question of sub.
marines, air craft, and land forces
unsolved. The main reason for
this was the unsettled and almost
threatening condition that still ex-
listed in Europe. A final adjust.
ment for the liquidation of repara-
tons ought to be the beginning of
a new era Of peace and good win
In the event that such a con-
dition develops, 1t becomes peril.
nent to examine what can be done
by our own country, in co-opera.
ton with others, further to rid
ourselves and the rest of the
world of the menace and burden
OF competitive ornaments and