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Ma the Mnahi at ?| here as prcpossd try | Om the" contrary, tt _ the atalnlstratloa hopes te ? Conference called by Europe to which the United States might ?end a representative with power ?nly to "llstim to" on the discussion ?nd report to this government. What waa aaid by Watson, LodgeI and McCormlck to the Issili was confirmed later at the White House. It was stated authoritatively that the United Statee government la owwil to assuming the burden of eallisg a conference for a solution of European difficulties. The Ad ministration. It was asserted, has bo Intention of rushing into Eu rope and taking upon Its 'shoulders the troubles of the Old World. An effer at arbitration by the United Statee would be presumptuous, it was polntsd out. In view of the fact that American arbitration has not been requested. rOOTim 18 OUTLINED. The position of the Administration Waa clearly stated to be that If the time should arrive when European statesmen believe the ordinary dip lomatic rhannele are Inadequate, an fcitematlonal commission of busi ?ess and financial experts may ha ?omlnated by the governments con cerned to study the questions and possibly arrive at aone method of solution. The United States would fcavs no objection. It was stated, to having a ropreeentattve on such a commission of experts. Moreover. It - would expect an Invitation from ?broad for American bualnees men and financial experts to participate tot such a gathering. Thus a clear distinction la made frv the administration between an economic conference and a confer ence of economic experts empowered Merely to study the situation and agree upon recommendations to their reepectlve government*. TO DIUCT88 DEBTS. Strong reaffirmation waa made behalf of the President that the tor of International debts could be discussed nor considered at rh a conference, while the ques tion of reparation* is one In which Jhe United States cannot Interfere. his Government Is not considering tny plsn of dictating to Germany ew much the reparations total hould be. nor to France the amount rhk-h should be received, it i 'slated. After Borah had withdrawn his | amendment. Senator Heflln. of Ala hams. obtained the floor and lntl aiated that he might offer It on his I own account before debate on the raval bill ends. REED PLEADS FOR RUSSIA. Senator Reed, of Missouri, ad dressed the Senate on the subject of American interference in Euro pean affairs, declaring he had con fidence that European nations will settle their problems themselves. He criticised the State Department for ?of extending recognition to Russls. which, he said, had prevented Amer ican farmers from obtaining Rus sian msrkets for their wheat. Senator Reed declared there had j been a great manv "loose state ments" about conditions In Europe and denied that "civilisation is about to fall." or thst the United States Is drifting toward another war. He ridiculed statements of the Borah proposal to the effect that unless the United Ststes assisted in ad justing Europe's financial affairs | "the world will go to smash." fTontlnued from First Psge > Interested from an economic standpoint, as our credits snd markets are Involved, and from S humanitarian standpoint. We cannot dispose of these problems by calling them European, for they are world problems, and we oannot escape the Injurious con sequences of a failure to settle them. KEY IN EUROPE'S HANDS. They sre. however. European problems in the sense that they oannot be solved without the con sent of European governments. The key to the settlement is In their hands, not ours. The crux of the European situa tion llee In the aettlement of reparations. There will be no ad justment until a basis for the discharge of reparations claims ha* been fixed. No demands of ours stand In the way of a proper settlement. Of course, we hold the obligations of European governments, and there has been a persistent at tempt ever since the armistice to link up the debts with reparatlona or with projects of cancellation. This attempt was resisted In a determined manner under the former Administration and under the present Administration. ,ECONOMIC PEACE VITAL. Again as to reparations, we have no desire to see Germany relieved of her just obligations to make reparations for the injuries due to her aggression. On the other hand, we do not wish to see s prostrate Germany. There can be no economic recuperation In Europe unleae Germany re cuperates. There ought to be a way for Statesmen to agree upon what Germany can pay. There ought to be a way to determine that limit and to provide a financial plan by which immediate re sults ran be obtained and the European nations ran feel that the foundation has been laid for their mutual and earnest en deavors to bring about the ut most prosperity to which the in dustry of their people entitle them. The Secretary then suggested the commission of high authorities In finance. He said: I do not believe that anv gen eral conference would answer the purpose better, much less that any political conference would accomplish a result which Pre , miers find It Impossible to reach. But I do believe that a small group, given proper freedom of action, would be able soon to devise a proper plan. ' It would be time enough to consider forcible measures after * such an opportunity had been i exhausted. ] The United States has a most friendly and disinterested pur j pose In this matter, and wishes to aid In any practicable way. But It is Idle to make sugges tions which srouse hopes snd are so impracticable that they cannot bear fruit. BUM FACES BIST THREATEN Will Premier Bonar Law's Cabinet Helde Extraordinary Session to Discuss Grave Situation FATEFUL PARLEY TUESDAY Rich Oil Fields of Mosul to | Be Important Factor in Out come of Conference in Paris I By JOHN T. BURKE. A par 1st Cable It t'ntrcrwl l?lk?. _ LONDON, Dae. 29.?Gloom re garding the dtuition in Europe fettled down over Downing Street today as Premier BonaT Law and the cabinet met in extraordinary session to eonaider Britain's atti tude on German reparations at the fateful conference of pre miers at Aria next Tueaday. PACING TRAGIC TURN. The cabinet ministers facs the tragic turn In the negotiations at Lausanne, where the Turks, enraged over Britain's refusal to surrender the rich oil lands of Mosul, are threatening hostilities. They are worked by the bitter enmity of France because the British refused to support the seizure of the Ruhr. They refused, however, after the ad journment of the momentous session | to reveal the result of their delibera tlons. There is no doubt In the minds of the leading diplomatic correspond ents of London that Premier Boner Law will he empowered to Insist on cutting down the reparations to be made by Uermany, and that he will go to Paris armed with facts and figures supplied by a group of finan cial and Industrial experts who held a session before the meeting of the cabinet and reported their findings to the prime minister. MAY FIGHT IF NECESSARY. If France refuses to scale down her demands at the meeting of the premiers 'iext week, it is the gen eral opinion here lhat Turkey, facing a disrupted entente, will insist on the return of Mosul and fight if necessary. It is believed here lhat Mosul is liable to be an important factor in shaping the outcome of the coming conference of premiers. This is evi denced by the fact that Lord Curzon is expected In Paris to repbrt on the grave situation in the Near Kast. which In the end may force Britain to agree to act sgaln with France. Italy and Relgium in dealing with Germany. The outlook at its best Is consid ered black by close observers in Lon don. London Diocese Seeks ? Revision of Prayer Book I.ONDON. Dec. 29. ? "A com munity of Christians that cannot \gree on the form of its most ?olemn worship is not a church, it is a coalition," said Sir Ed ward Clark. K. O., at the London diocesan conference, at Church House. Westminster, which passed a resolution approving the proposal for an alternative prayer book for optional use. The S. F. L. Bemays. of Stan more. said tonight that the -prayer book needed revising root and branch. The mass of the people do not understand a great deal of it. "Take the marriage service." he proceeded. "We put into their mouths words the meaning of which they have not the foggiest idea. The other day I was marry ing a couple, and the man said: *1 plank thee my troth.' as though it was his last shilling, and he hoped he was putting it on a winner.'' Lausanne Failure Looms; British Strengthen Navy LONDON. Dec. 29.?Great Britain is proceeding with plans to strengthen her navy, following in dications of a collapse of the Lausanne Conference It was officially announced that one of the two new battleships to be laid down immediately is to be built on the Tyne. and the other on the Mersey. Armor for both vessels is to be manufactured at Sheffield. Sheffield, now ending the most disastrous year in its Industrial history, welcomes Its contracts as an indication of the beginning of brighter times. La Plata Quiet As Mob Lets Law Take Course LA PLATA. Md.. Dec. 29?As sured that James Bean, twenty-four-1 year-old negro, confessed assailant! of Miss Emily Wenk, thirty-five, of Brentland. seven miles from here, will be speedily indicted and tried, residents tonight were satisfied to let the law take Its course. For a time, however, after the negro had confessed threats of lynching were made. But tonight the mob violence sentiment has vanished. 8heriff John M. Simms and State's Attorney Ferdinand C. Cooksey, hearing threats of lynching, urged farmers gathered here to put away their firearms. N.Y. Fuel Dictators Quit; City In Famine Crisis NEW YORK. Dec. 29.?With New York In the throes of a coal crisis, the fuel situation reached a climax late today when State Fuel Ad ministrator Woodin. his staff in Greater New York, and the nine district fuel admlniatrators through out the State all resigned. Woodin. in his letter to Governor elect Smith, said for four months he had been giving a volunteer service "greatly to the detriment of his personal affairs." He asked that his resignation be accepted to take effect January L DOUGH AND DUBB (OnnWiL im tar Hv i J>UBgS>NOVIL!-"j 1 "r ?*i*i~l-yvi*?-vwiA?xnj Harding Plan for Conference With Europe on Reparations Business Suicide, Says Hinman By UKOKUE W. HINMAN. (Copyright, 1H!. by Kltr Company.) To all forcsighted husinnis men the news from Washing ton must be disquieting. The President ob jects to Sen ator Borah's plan for h business con ference of the world: but he i n 11 mates vaguely that be has a plan of his own along similar line*. In addition, the President suggests that Congress might allow the Government to name a member of the reparations com mission. Today the condition of Europe is a cloud on the American business horizon. It is unpleas ant. It is not disastrous, but If the intimations and suggestions of the President's letter for a conference were to be carried out, the cloud would become as a leaden cloak, descend on the great body of American enter prise and bear It to earth. The words sound extravagant. They are not. They are the words of soberness and truth. OPPO8K8 ALLIANCE. Well and good ? But how about America's joining England. France and associates on the reparations commission? What should be ssid of this sugges tion? Almost the same. A mem bership of this commission would be a perilous entanglement; a pledge of trouble for American business; a promise of interna tional quarrels and incitations to ********************* *I*I*I*I|V?V><VU' KERN AND GUFFEY PLEAD NOT GUILTY Two Accused In Bosch Mag neto Inquiry Furnish Bail for Trials. NEW YORK. Dec. 29.?Martin E. Kern, of Allentown. Pa., purchaser of the Bosch Magneto Company from the Alien Property Custodian and Joseph F. Guffey, director of sales of the Allen Property Cus todian's office, both of whom were Indicted on Thursday, appeared today in the Federal District Court. Kern appeared with his counsel, Thomas E. Rush, and entered a ten tative plea of not guilty. The In dictment charged him with making a false affidavit in applying for an American passport to Europe. He furnished t5.000 ball for final pleading January t. Guffey. whose indictment charged embezzlement of Government funds to the amount of $40,000, was ac companied by his counsel, Isldor Kresel Hs furnished )7,K00 bond for plesding on January I after a plea of not guilty. foreign war#, a claim on endless and helpless turmoil that would shake financial confidence in and i out of season throughout the United State*. The reparations in Kb rope ha* become the moat chaotic and dangerous proposition in the his tory of world finance. It has in it the materials for a dejpen wars. Aiul once in the commis sion. the United States would be forced to *ro along with the rest on a course fceset with every financial and political peril tha* can be imagined. The present situation haa been created by a deliberate policy since the armis tice. A $?00,0<H).000 PL'ZZLK. Little Bulgaria Is one case in point. The problem here is to exact $ 700.000.000 paper monev an nually from a country with 1800.000,000 paper income. That would seem a savage enough proposition. But the European powers made the situation worse by a policy of greedy spoliation. From the armistice to date, the allied army in Bulgaria has piled up a bill of nearly $100,000,000 in paper, money against the gov ernment and the various allied commissions, which, like a horde of Huns, devastate the peoples beyond the Rhine, have added $40,000,000 more, until there is no more hope of exacting the reparations from Bulgaria than of getting $33,000,000,000 from Germany. Still the life blood is sucked out of her, the de mand for the pound of flesh is ^ pressed. And the pressure is and must be an incentive to new turmoil and perhapa war. so desperate are the people; so hopeless the nation's finances. TODAY ! (Continued from Firat Page.) ernment do not agree with those of the Free State. That is a sad and black ending of the old year there. THE Greeks are sending an army of their own into Thrace. They see English, French and Italians disagreeing about Turkey at Lausanne and think this a good time for more "fighting with Turkey. IT WOULD SEEM a pretty good time for the United States to hold up its right hand and take this resolution: "No more mixing with Euro pean affairs." The British are sending ships again to the Dandanelles to make the Turks do a little thinking. THE OLD YEAR is dying, in the usual way, nobody no ticing it especially. Sarah Bernhardt, you will be glad to hear, is out of bed, and will we the New Year in. She didn't say, "I am getting better and better every day in every way." But she did say, "I refuse "to die." That seems to be a pretty autosuggestion. Hungary totters on the verge of the Mime precipice. Austria, too; both pushed ther*. and hold there by the powers with which the United States would have to , associate itself on the reparations commission. For -armies of occupation and foreign commission*, nearly $2 - 000,000.000 lias now l?e"n collected or is being collected from Ger many. Some of the items of these bills are beyond belief?for re j built caftle* to accommodate for- | eign officers; for hunting pre* i serves; for Persian rugs; velvet | carpets; marble baths, and even for houses of ill-fame requisi tioned by the allies. The total surpasses, by far. the enormous amount solicited as a loan from the United States to "stabilize" the German Republic and "to save" Europe. A BUSINESS LESSON. This is neither a sermon nor lecture on ethical culture. The lesson to be pointed here is mere ly the business lesson. And the business situation, as it would be presented to the United States either in an economic conference or in the reparations commission, would be corrupt, desperate, insol vent and provocative of war. To identify this nation?its business, Its finance, its welfare?with th* governments and policies that have created this situation would be tempting calamity, stepping toward disaster. Of these facts the business men of this whole nation should take note and warning. If they want peace and progress and welfare, now is the time to speak, before the vague words in Washington become fatuous policies and be fore fatuous policies commit us to deeds that today none approve and eventually all must abhor. Meyer Named To Head I. C. C. Balthasar H. Meyer, one of the oldest commissioners of the Inter state Commerce Commission, was named chairman yesterday and will at once as sume his new duties. According t o the custom of the commission, Chairman Charles C. Mc Chord, having served one year, will retire from the post. It is expected that he will retain his regular duties as commissioner. Mr. Meyer, who served on the first State railroad commission In Wisconsin, was appointed to the Interstate Commerce Commission by President Taft and reappointed by President Wilson. He has been assigned to the par ticular task of supervising railroad security issues, which the transpor tation act of 1920 gave the Interstate Commerce Commission power to con trol. TO SELL SOVIET'S WHEAT. RIGA, Dec. 2t.?A representative of the Bovlet Grain Export Trust who has arrived here on his way to Berlin has been Instructed to ar range for. sale of the Bolshevist wheat crdp to Germany. jnMTKRES FKNtH MUfTMIISM Nation Only "Defending Her self Against Germany, He Deoiares. ? 4 RAPIDLY REDUCING ARMY Has 200,000 Fewer Soldiers Than in 1913; Spends Less Than America. Br CORNKI.Il'S YANDERMLT, Jr. France is neither militaristic nor Imperialistic, as charged by al leged ??unfriendly" interests In America. Jules J. Jubi erand, the French Am baaasdor vigor oualy declares. At a time when European affairs are claiming the at tention of the American peo ple because of possible inter vention by the United States, A m b a s a a dor Jusserand as serts France is "only defending herself in her coasums *Aaoffi*iT? demanda on Germany, which have threatened further chaos abroad. FRANCE RKDL'CING ARMY. Said the Ambassador: I saw the other day in a newspnper. an unfriendly one. that France was no militaristic that she now ha* more s&ldiers than she had before the war. It ia an actual fact, and you ran ^verify as much a* you please, that we have 200.000 fewer men than we had in 1915. a year tee fore the war. We are effecting great econ omics in diminishing our arm ament. You may see the re verse. but neverthel??Hfl we are cutting our army and our mili tary expenses. Two ycara ago, for ^national defense, the army and navy, we spent seven billion and a half francs. Presently, we will spend less than five billion fram-s. which is much less than our American and British friends are spending. Rut you are quite right in doina what you please. We are noi the kind that will call you names, but kindly don't call us names TV?n't say we are militaristic or imperialistic. We plan to defend France and defend what Franco stands for. RKA8SI RKS AMERICA. lie gives further side light* on France's expectations of America as follows: I have seen It said also that it would be a shame if in a coun try like Fran<*e. where women have few children. American mothers would have to send their own sims. Be assured that we \ ?ball never want that. If ever you cross again, it will not be to help us. because we are France. It will be because France fights for a principle that will be dear to you. and dearer to you than France can be?than your own country can be. The Ambassador cited his quiry to Clemenceau "What is the sum total of the impressions you will carry home?" He quot<<d the "Tiger" uk declaring "admiration for rtie amount of heart those Americans have got." "You have not changed." Ambas sador .lusserand continued, "You were that way at the time of the war of independence. You proved that you were the aame at the time of the great war. Of all your treas ures that is by far the bA?t. 'Keep it. Never allow it to diminish: 1 feel sure you will preserve it ats It is today." Cepyrifht. ItSZ. by C-T Newspaper Service. Accused of Raising $15 Check to Only $15,000 GREENWICH. Conn.. Dec 2S.? William Schulman, who represent ed himself as being agent for the National Coal Company, for whom a warrant was sworn out In this city (or hla arrest, charting he had raised a check from tlo to $15,000, has been arrested In San Diego, according to a message re ceived from the latter city to night. ?1 '?*>???? t_> r? ?? Propaganda ban been eontinu oui and increasing to drive this country Into aoma aort of Inter national pact, to discredit th? action of tha Senate In refusing to enter the League: and every art of publicity bar been utilized In the effort to reverae the de cision of the American people, and to destroy ' thoaa who of ficially have been a part of that, decision. I am against the Borah amend ment. I am against it for pre cisely tha reasons I waa against taking the United States into the League of Nations. I am against It because, in my opinion, it will do exactly what, thus far. we have declined to do. 1 am against It becauae. In even greater degree, and with leas safeguards than the I^eague of Nation's gave lo us. It will em broil us in European contro versies, and finally make the United States, after a hundred and fifty years, a part of the European system. I am against the amendment as It is preeented. and. Just as in the former con test of which it la, in my Judg ment only a continuation. I am against It with either reservations or amendments. WARNS AGAINST SOPHISTRY. ? The wizardry of words still holds some of our people en thralled. The facile pen, or eloquent tongue, can paint the picture of the suffering and woe and anguish of the world, and in burning sentences demand that in Home nebulous, uncertain and undisclosed fashion, we should at all hazards rescue our brethren a> the uttermeat ends of the earth from their triala, their tribulations and their suf ferings. . Not only does the propoaed con ference propose to consider every world economic problem, but the amendment provides that under standings and agreements shall be arrived at Understandings and arrangementa by whom? The United States calls the confer ence. It xits with those who attend. Of necessity, and in conjunction with those invited, tt muat arrive at understandings and arrangements affecting every world problem. It would be un speakable to call this conference and stand aside and refuse to have aught to do with It. If we meet with the other nations to- consider their problems, then we must bear our part in carry ing out the solution. Reparations constitute the key to economic stability and recov ery of the Central Powers Whether their terms continue aa they are, or are modified, pro vision for their execution muat be made. And if France yields to any entreaty of ours for modi fication. then Justly Franca may insist either that we underwrite the new terms or guarantee them, or that we become one of the members charged with their execution Do you desire to underwrite reparations to France or any other country? I da not Just one* other thing may be done to aid Europe, and this possibly in some minds ia the nub of the whole matter. We might minister to Europe's. needs and assist in her restoration by lending her more money. If any man in Congreaa dared to sug geat such a thing, the American people would quickly end his political activities. I suspect certain gentlemen engaged in international banking hug the delusion that our Government may underwrite the loans they make: but I auggest to them that their hopea are but an irideacent *lream. ONLY TWO COURSES OPEN. Following to its logical con clusion. the proposal for. thta conference. we must choose either the alternative of aroualng falae hopea and doing incalcula ble harm, or of entering upon a course far removed from what Is merely financial and which may Jeopardise our future: and which If once entered upon may make us a part of Europe's political controversies.* Moses and Johnson Flay Borah's Plan As Leaguers' Trick Opposition U the Borah plan for an economic conference was toi in tae&mate yesterday bjr Senators Hiram Johnson, of California, and Goow* Moses, of Now Hampshire, both of whom were "trreeon cilables" in the Versailles treaty fight. Their speech to were strong reaffirmations of their adherence to the poUey of keeping the United States free from all entanglements and aroused sympathetic inter est among the oecnpant* of the crowded galleries ai well as from the Senators ia the dumber. Extracts from the . By cannot support the pending idmnit. nor will I appro" V>y similar proposal at any tiro# prior to a sincere effort Mi th* part of Europe Itself to better its condition. Already, Incalculable harm ha? beJen brought to Europe by the mere (act of this proposal beta* mad#. Famished and vorsctooa pro pies again visualise the United 6is tea as a geographic Christ mas tre^ In their minds again floats the picture of plethoric Uncle Sam, warm-hearted and generous, opening hie purse to the hand of need whether meritorious or meretricious. They dream dreams of more loans of huge sums prithout either security or maturity, and In imagination they are Already spending our money, not for the reHef of ns tional or individual suffering, bat in preparation for more Joy ride* of imperialism, militarism snd aggrandizement. DREAD8 ENTANGLEMENTS. It ia true that our own Depart ment of 8tate would draw the agenda for the conference, but the result would be to entangle and embroil the United States In all the jealousies snd rivalries of the. Old World. Our dread of this was the ?viO\ ing cause for our rejection of the Veraaitlee treaty, and none who held to this opinion can ever forget or sufficiently re ward the Senator from Idaho (Borahi for the valiant and suc cessful leadership whirl) he gave to our earlier action here, nor for the vigor and eloquence with which he swayed the minds of hi?* fellow countrymen when the lame was taken to them in a great and solemn referendum. Thr#e time* the Amencan peo pie have rejected such s proposal ?twice by constitutional vote in thia representative body, and once by direct voice of the people, who by s majority of 7.000,000 approved our action Three times Columbia has refused to enter th" fantastic household of the VeraaiPea treaty by the front door: yet there are new those who seek in some way tn lioost her over the back fence or to push her in through the has# ment window. DECRIES PROP %G ANDA. The propaganda to entangle up in European affairs has never <-eased From those early dav* of Ifl* when the highly profita ble import of the Veraaille* treat > dawned in its richness upon the dazzled minds of the scantilv vie tones allies and their profiteer ing partners, the international bankers, the United States has sWanned with propagandists offi rial and unofficial, sentimental snd salaried, dinning into our ears the strong m-ord "must'*? and all pointing to us the path of our duty, which they them selves have chsrted. snd which leads direct and only to bene fits for themselves. 1 think the United 8tates is weary of sll this: that the United States deems itself competent to find Its one line of duty and to follow It: and that we need no aruidance save that of our own conscience which hitherto has never failed and never will. If we engage in any conference such as is here outlined, or in any conference prior to an earn est attempt on Europe's part to clean her own house, we whs II find ourselves in the anomalmi* and disagreeable position of mak ine decisions lietween two equally balanced groups of contender* To us would fall the decisive vote and the decision of the umpire Our nations I frame daily demon st rates the uncomfortable pool tion which the umpire occupies And I Vave no desire to see I'ncle Sam '"beaned" by a pop bottle thrown from the European bleachers. The only conference winch can ever be auramoned to produce a satisfactory or official solution of the ills of Europe is a con ference of the -airnalorv ppwers for the purpose of re-writing the Versailles treaty and to eliminate the greed which marks its every paragrsph. - Special New Year's FLOWER SALE <JThe following bargain items will enable you to have a floral New Year's at trifling cost. Remember, "Cash and Carry" prices are based on minimized "overhead," which precludes telephone ordering, charge buying and deliveries. FRESH ROSES, $1.50, $2 and $3 dozen CARNATIONS . ; $1.50 and $2 dozen SWEET PEAS ..... $1 bunch CALENDULAS .... i ' 50c bunch BLOOMING PLANTS, fresh from the greenhouse, $3 $4, & $5 values, special for this New Year s sale, ea. $1.75 7 THERE ARE TfFO REASONS: FIRST, the warm weather ha* brought In bloom thousands of flowers, which th. grower will low unlesa sold at one SECOND, "Flowers for Everybody" at popjilir price*. ? Cash and Carry Flower Shop No Phone Orders?No Chartee?No Deliveries 807 Fourteenth St. N. W.