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Show HARDING REJECTS GERINTSAPPEAL PROMPT RESPONSE GIVEN PLEA FOR ACTION TO FORESTALL ALLIES' DEMAND. Expresses Willingness to Bring New Proposals to Attention of tho Allies In a Manner Acceptable ft Thm Washington. President Harding on April 21 declined to accede to the request re-quest of tho German government to act as mediator with the allies on the question of reparations and to fix the amount tho German peoplo are to pay. At the sumo tlmo tho president, In replying to tho German appeal, expressed ex-pressed conditionally tho willingness of tho American government to act ns an Intcrmcuhiry between Germany and the allies In bringing about a resumption re-sumption of negotiations for a settlement set-tlement of the reparation terms. If tho German government, tho president pres-ident said, would formuloto new pro-posals pro-posals constituting a "proper basis Ifor discussion," ho would consider bringing the matter to the attention of tho allies "hi a manner acceptable A At ,t U) infill. I The Berlin government's appeal for American mediation to avert the con-tomplated con-tomplated coercive mensures of tliol French und llrltlsh was delivered to American Commissioner Drcsel nnd Immediately transmitted to Washington, Washing-ton, where It arrived early Thursday afternoon. Secretary of State Hughes took tho Gci'inuu note to the White House about 3 p. m. nnd discussed tho question ques-tion of n reply with the president. It did not take them long to decide that tho United States could not accept the position of umpire between a nation with which i It was nssoclate.l In the war. Secretary Hughes returned to the state department and dispatched the reply to tho Berlin government through the American commission. The action of tho president and tho secretary of stoto conforms to the lines laid down In the previous Hughes noto to Germany. In thnt communication communica-tion Mr. Hughes said that tho United States, stands with tho allies In holding hold-ing Germany responsible for tho wnr and hound to pay reparation to tho full extent of Its Ability, fairly and Justly determined. He expressed the hopo of a renewal of the negotiations. |
