INTERESTS OF AMERICA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 6 January 1923, Page 7

INTERESTS OF AMERICA.

SUGGESTION IN SENATE,

REPRESENTATION ON COMMIS-

SION,

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.

Senator Robinson, speaking in the Senate, urging the enactment of a Bill providing that the United States shall have representation on the Reparations Commission, declared the Government and not private bankers should grapple .with European economic problems, as they affect American industry and the State. Mr Robinson criticised the plan of Mr C. E. Hughes (Secretary of State) for an unofficial commission as abrogative by the Government of its powers and obligations to deal with foreign problems. Congress should authorise the President to appoint am official representative on the (Separations Commission. This Bill, he said, was" not intended to embarrass the President, but its purpose was to relieve him from the humiliation imposed by his own party associates. "It is essential that a final adjustment of reparations be speedily effected)" he said. "If the United States can render effective assistance an effort must be made at once;" we should not wait until Germany is hopelessly bankrupt. Both hesitation and secrecy should be abandoned, and let the Senate be informed of what has been done an<\ what the Government proposes to do to save us from the harm'which.is inevitable if the present political and economic disturbance in Europe continues."

Mr Robinson suggestfd that Colonel Harvey (American Ambassador to Britain) be called before the Foreign Relations Committee. Senator Lodge assured him that all information that would assist in dealing with this question would be obtained by the committee. - Immediately upon the receipt of a cablegram from Paris announcing that the conference had broken up after a disagreement, Colonel . Harvey conferred with Mr Hughes and President Harding, the President cancelling all engagements so as to devote himself to the consideration of the new situation. The United Press Association understands that the United States is unlikely to move immediately.. , NEW YORK, Jan. 5. The New York World's Washington correspondent telegraphs that the capitol, upon the news of the break up of the Premiers' Conference, became a city, of conferees. Colonel Harvey confers with Senator Lodge, and in turn they confer Avith President Harding and then with Mr Hughes. Senator Robinson visits President Harding in order tp explain..his Bill, which will be taken under consideration of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee immediately.

Mr Weeks (Secretary for the Army) confers with his undersecretaries, ostensibly on the question of American troops in Germany. A suggestion that these troops be withdrawn is in the air. It is felt the United States could not well allow France to occupy the Ruhr and allow her troops to remain, but on the other hand the presence of American troops might be best. It is difficult toteay exactly what decisions have been reached among the powers that be in Washington. There is much discussion, but the understanding is that the United States at pre-

sent will make no moves, but.will occupy itself with observing the situation for the time being. LONDON, Jan. .4/ Mr Lloyd George telegraphed the Daily Chronicle: "I read, with gladness, 'Secretary Hughes' important "speech suggesting the appointment of a commission of financial experts on reparations. So far as I can judge from the compressed report of Mr Hughes' remarks, my suggestions travel in the same direction. • All other experiments will merely postpone the mischief which, in the long- run, will have to be redeemed with usurious compound interest by an embarrassed Europe.'' NEW YORK, Jan. 5. The Press, though unanimous concerning the gravity of the situation arising out of the rupture of the Premiers' Conference, shows differing attitudes in considering the result. The Wdrld blames France, and says & terrible responsibility, rests upon her. She committed herself %o measures which, in the opinion of practically the whole world, are dangerous, provocative and self-defeating. The Times points out that Mr Hughes knew the Premiers,' Conference would fail, and tlie paper asks will America step in and fulfil the promise contained in the recent speech of Mr Hughes. (