Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-14
SECRECY SHROUDS
HOOVER MEETING
President May Have Discuss
ed Preparations With Slim
son, Mellon and Mills.

President Hoover summoned Secre-
| tary of State Stinson, Secretary of the
Treasury Mellon and Undersecretary Of
the Treasury Mills to the White House
yesterday for an unscheduled confer
ence, the note of which was kept secret.
While no official comment was forth
coming. either from the White House,
State Department or Treasury, it was
! understood tina. the conference con-
cerned the agreement that has been
reached in Paris on Germanys war debt
to the allies.
Secretary Stimson's summons to the
White House came so unexpectedly that
he was compelled to cancel his usual
press conference within a few minutes
Of the hour the newspaper men were
to assemble. Col Stimson did not ar
range another hour to see the CORE
spondents and declined to be inter-
viewed in his Office on any subject.
Secretary Mellon and Undersecretary
Mills were equally uncommunicative.
I'm Alone Not Discussed.
The only information that could be
obtained at the White House was that
the conference had nothing whatever
to do with this Governments dispute
with Canada over the sinking of the
rum-runner I'm Alone. A White House
| attache said this international problem
did not come up at ALL but sealed his
lips thereafter, refusing to either con-
firm or deny whether the President
called his State Department and Treas
ury chiefs to the parley to work out
what attitude the United States would
take on further cut in reparations.
Deductions based solely on the Of
| ices of the conferees, however, pointed
strongly to the reparations problem.
consideration of reparations, Secretary
StimSon and Secretary Mellon are the
cabinet officers who will be most helpful
to him, while Undersecretary Mills is
the Treasury Department official who
has had more to do with that problem
than any other person In that DEPART
ment except Mr.. Mellon.
Administration quarters were puzzled
tonight, however, to find a means
whereby President Hoover can reduce
the United States claim against Ger
many below its present figures, which
admittedly are very small now. Press
dispatches from Paris indicate that the
other allied powers have agreed upon
substantial cuts and strongly intimate
mat some similar action may be taken
~ '~NS OAANC0 0botCo, IL tllG uIlOIuCldl
American members of the reparatiops
committee of experts, j. Pierpont Nor
gan and Owen D. Young have not al
ready been advised to that effect.
S240,0oO,OOO Is Due U. S.
President Hoover has insisted in the
past that German reparations is
problem for Europe to settle and has
taken the position that the United
States has no interest in the present
Paris conferences. If he has changed
his mind no intimation to that eject
| has been permitted to leak out of the
White House or State Department
Mr.. Morgan and Mr.. Young were ner-
mitted by former President Coolidge to
accept positions as members of the
committee OF experts purely in the
capacity OF private citizens, stressing
the point that they had no authority
70 represent the United States. Up to
maintained that view.
About 1000, 100000 gold marks ($24O. :
000,000) is still due the United States
to cover the cost of the Army of Oc-
cupation. In addition, the United
States under the present arrangement
is to receive IA per cent of whatever
sum the allies are to receive from
, Germany. While the United States
probably could agree to further re-
duction in the costs of occupation. it
would be difficult to reduce payments
! that were arranged by the Mixed
CLANS Commission In 1925. These
cover claims presented by American
citizens.
| Under the present ARRANGEMENT. fixed
at a meeting in Paris attended by for
mer Secretary of State Kellogg, Ger
! many is to pay 100000 gold marks
| about $13,000,000) a year until the
costs of occupation are paid in full.
The original agreement, known as the
| Wadsworth agreement, called for nav
ment in full within 10 years. It was
said the United States might agree to
| further decrease the amount of annual
payments, with an attendant increase
/ In the number of annual payments, but
there was question whether this Gov
eminent would permit the aggregate
sum to be decreased.
! Reduction Held Probable.
/ The private claims are to be paid off
at rate not to exceed 100000 gold
marks in normal year. In this class
of reparations, too, it was said, the.
United States might agree to smaller
annual payments, but it was believed
that President Hoover would find it
difficult to reduce this country's previ-
olisly fixed share, even If he we're dis
r,nsed IN do so which has not as yet