The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-08-21
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
France and Britain Agree
on Reply to Germany
Crop Report of
Government.
BY EDWARD w. PIckARD

BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD /
n RANCE and Great Britain, in the
e persons Of Foreign Minister BRAND
and Foreign Secretary Austen Cham
berlain, have reached complete agree
ment as to the reply which the allies
are to make to Germany's latest note
on a security pact for Europe. The
text will not be made public until 1t
has been submitted to Italy, Belgium
and Japan, and then delivered to Ber-
lin. However, enough of its nature
has leaked out to show that it is cor
dial in tone and calculated to persuade
Germany of the friendly intentions of
the other nations. Dealing with only
a few points specifically, it suggests
that the time is ripe for getting down
to business, which presumably will
take the form first of conversations
among the ambassadors and foreign
Offices. 1t is hoped the foreign minis
tiers can get together for the final ar
rangements in September, when the
League Of Nations is in session.
France still insists on preserving
her leadership over central Europe and
therefore still demands that the east
ern boundaries of Germany, as well
as the western, be guaranteed. This Is
not acceptable to Great Britain, any
more than it Is to Germany. France
also clings to her claim to the right
to send troops through Germany to
help Poland in case the Poles are at
tackled by Russia. Germany doesn't
concede this and the British are loath
to insist on it.
The allies probably will insist that
Germany first Of all enter the League
of Nations. This Berlin is willing to
do only with special treatment in re-
spect to Article 16 of the, covenant
Also, the Germans will demand that
they be given mandates over at least
some of their former African colonies.
In the reichstag last week the govern
ment was attacked for making con-
cessions to the whole world that fail
to take into account Germany's ma
tional honor" In replying, Foreign
Minister Stresemann said:
"As to our right to have colonies
can only state that the first time
the question Of our entering the
League of Nations was debated Ger
many took the stand that as long as
the league distributes colonies and ac-
cepts the principle that fully civilized
nations have the right to control the
less progressive nations, the Germans
have the right to be counted among
the civilized nations. On this point,
too. Germany demands full equality
and rights"
n ARON Won NATHAN, German
ID ambassador to Washington, mas
handed to Secretary of State Kellogg
the formal request Of his government
that the United States return the Ger
man properties seized during the wal
and now in the custody of the alien
property custodian. The State depart
: ment's reply must be that it Is neces-
sary to await the action Of congress
on the matter. The properties were
seized by act Of congress and that body
stipulated that they could be disposed
of only under congressional authority
Those yet retained are valued at about
$3QOO00.O00.
That Germany would make thi:
claim was expected, but it is probable
that it will reopen the whole matter
of the collection, Of American claims
on Germany for payment for damage.
sustained ty American citizens durini
the war, including the Lusitani,
claims, and for the expenses of main
tanning the American army of occupa
ton in the Rhine country. There arr
many advocates of the proposition tina
the seized properties should be KEEP
to liquidate these debts, in part. Tn
entire matter is up to congress.
n NEGOTIATION for the funding o
IN the Belgian debt, now In progress
IN Washington. were not especially SAT
isfactory last week. Each side pu
forward a proposition which the othe
side rejected. so it was necessary {