Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-05

American opinion assumes that the
United States will take a leading part
in the forthcoming reparations confer
ence, Notwithstanding the unofficial
character Of its participation. AS the
Detroit News explains, because Wash
ington has the whip hand on American
private loans, which are the controlling
factor in the reparations problem, our
Government can approve or disapprove
any scheme proposed in the conference"
Recalling that American representa-
ton on the expert commission of 1924
was of the highest grade" the Rochester
Times Union feels that there can be
no obstacle to following the precedent
Of 1924 and permitting the Preparations
Commission itself to invite American
citizens to serve on its committee of
experts" That paper expresses the
hope that "the high standard then set
will be maintained in appointments
to the new body" as America has to
take part in a big job
A tribute to Owen D. Young, who
served on the former commission, is
paid by the Philadelphia Evening Bull
letin, with the statement that Ibis i'm
drafting of the Dawes plan makes him
logical choice" The Bulletin adds:
mfr. Young is one of that increasing
number Of Americans successful in bust
ness and professional life who have
needed the call to give public causes
the benefit Of large portion of their
time and efforts"
0ctataeu,an u,bo roa l1,, dAeira a eo,,od
permanent settlement of the reparationS
problem should be most anxious to place
before their respective countries plan
devised by independent economists and
financiers.' says the Chicago Daily
News. Also, the Daily News believes
that IF the United States can aid the
European experts and generally con-
tribute to intellectual and moral dis
armament, to lasting peace, it is both
this Nations duty and high privilege
to extend such aid in generous meas
ure."
American interest in a recasting of
the Dawes plan, and in an ultimate
clearing up Of the financial debris left
by the war;" according to the New York
Times, lis manifest and vital If we
were not willing to do our part in
tackling the job out of consideration for
do it in order to get ourselves out of
a scrape." The Times holds that 1.-The
task in which American experts are
to join Is one directly concerning this
country, both now and in the future"
Our Government has properly
maintained the position" observes the
st. Louis Globe-Democrat, that the
settlement Of reparations was a matter
of purely European concern, and that
the debts to the United States were
questions between the individual states
owing them and the American Govern
nent. But If these states find it pos
sible. by means of the reparations set
Element now contemplated, to discount
their debts to this country, it Is hardly
conceivable that the American Govern
ment would refuse to consider the mat
ter"
* y n "
The situation as summarized by the
Flint Daily Journal is as follows: 1--WE
are cooperating with Europe in the
ratification Of treaties to outlaw war
There is reason why we cooperate in
removing the causes which might lead
to war. The unsettled reparations
problem constitutes a potential cause
for war. 1t is as essential to remove
this cause as to agree not to fight"
Whatever the decisions, the SUBJ
stantial qualities Of American business
genius will have a helpful effect on the
decisions of the new commission"
AYERS the Louisville Courier-Journal,
and the Detroit News emphasizes the
situation arising through the fact that
because Washington has the whip hand
on private American loans, which are
the controlling factor in the reparations
problem. our Government can approve
or oisapprove any scheme proposed in
the conference"
To the Manchester Union 1t appears
that: 1T Is true that the full amount
! of the PREPARATIONS annuity quota does
not mature .untn uext years but the