Arizona republican., 1919-02-17
Uncle Sam, Partner


 Now that the League of Nations is out of the at least temporarily the peace conference will descend to the business for which it called, agreement upon the terms of peace and adjustment of the relations of allies the fixing of boundaries and various concrete determinations. part of this work will overlap the work of the representatives of the five powers who agreed upon the League of Nations covenant
 But as the peace treaty is to be more definite it will probably occupy much more time in the making for 1t must be something upon which the nations must be brought into agreement whereas the covenant of the League of Nations may may not be agreed to-
 Among the matters to be decided is that of pay ing for the war. only thing is agreed to to that and that is that the central powers be made 10 pay to the extent ability. Of this payment whatever it may be, the United States would receive nothing. since it has waived indemnity. But there is the interesting problem of adjusting the of the among the allies.
 Mir Mark Sullivan. who has been in Paris since the opening of the peace conference. has very in terestng article that subject in the current Col Hers He recalls the recent generous proposition Of former Attorney General wickersham, that send to France and Great Britain a receipted bill for the billions had loaned them and the protesting reply of Senator Phelan of California that such propos ton would be humiating to the allies.
 Mr. Sullivan observes that Mir Phean not aware of the extent to which of allies could endure that kind of humiliation. He recalls the propo son by M. Ribot former French minister of finance, in which he goes Mir Wickersham better" NJ. Ribos plan would not only involve the cancellation of the debt of two billions France but would leave a large amount to be determined later to be paid by us share of the According to this plan there would be thrown into pool the entire allied cost of the from the very beginning taking into account the number of killed. That is, suppose each the allies would be credited with what it had paid, with the number of men killed at much per head that a total would be found an average would be struck.
 And that is not all of M Ribots plan. Another very important factor into it. ability to pay Here the United States would shine above it's allies It would be put upon the basis of large property owner and heavy taxpayer among a lot of poverty stricken neighbors. Under such plan this, Uncle sam would discover that his loans of billions had not only been absorbed but that though having waived the receipt of any indemnity, he would still be held along with the central powers for the payment of a very large indemnity his late partners in the warlike enterprise.
 After a settlement such a basis Uncle Sam would retire rumnate upon his share of the spells. which would consist, in the first place, of world made safe for democracy; the training of his people
 
 few rdmentary thrift something they also needed start toward education in the of becom ing bondholders a useful occupation Yet he would feel that somehow he had been "hornswoggled' in the deal and he would be filled with suspicion of his late associates that his enthusiasm with respect to the League of Nations would be considerably cooled
 We cannot conceive, though that anybody will the present NJ. Ribots plan in the peace conference. Our allies could do only shamelessly. We could do it magnanmousy. but not gracefully. and would do with perfect understanding that treaty embracing that plan would never be ratified.
 If insisting upon a share of the spells, should, of course, be held for share of the overhead and contingent expenses war even expenses that were incurred before went into it. but have waived share of the dividend in advance. We may claim a limited partnership and admit responsibility only to the of our actual investments which do not include our oans