Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-04-13

4
question is now being asked and q
satisfactory answer is not forthcom-
ing. It is being asked with particular
reference to Gen. john J. Pershing,
who was in command of the eversea
/ forces. 1t is being asked with respect
to some eight or ten major generals
who won distinction in the war and
who according TO the view of most per-
sons should not be called on to take
up the routine work Of the army. What
! to do with General Pershing is a real
problem with the secretary of war.
After closing out his work in France
last fall, the general returned TO this
| city. He opened an Office here in
building apart from the war depart
ment building proper and for two or
| three months was busy with his final
report. He finished with that job ear
| ly in the year and since he made his
| final report has been killing time while
waiting for the secretary of war TO
| give him an assignment.
In the meantime he continues under
the nominal appointment of command
err of the American expeditionary
forces with station in this city. Sec
rotary of War Baker having nothing
/ else in mind ut this time for the gen.
eral is sending him out on one inSpec-
ton trip after another.
! There is some confusion about the
exact military status of General Per-
shing due to lack of clearness in legis-
| latiOn enacted by congress. BY exist
| ing law there is created the Office of
+, general of the armies of the United
States" 1t is held that General Per-
| shing is not occupying this office and
| is not doing so because the president
| through an error in nominating him
and the senate through an error in
confirming him designated him as gen
| eral in the regular army" an Office that
| in reality does not exist. There has
| been a question rs to whether General
Pershing is entitled 20 receive pay I'M
der the commission he possesses. but
| the question has not been raised Off
cially and probably will not be. This
| all goes to show how a little careless
ness created much confusion.
Unable to Pay Debts.
| The treasury department is now
| convinced that it will be a long
! time before any of the govern
mentS To which cash was advanced by
! the United States during the world
! war will be able to pay. Some of the
money never will come back Russia
for instance received $751;, 729. $50. and
while il is possible that in time a part
J of this debt may he pad. the eXpecta-
ton is that the greater part of it will
eventually have 10 he charged to profit
and loss Tie total credits estab-
/ lished in the United States by foreign
countries on account of the war aggre-
gated $9,647 40 494S4. The cash act
ually advanced aggregated $5,416,3T1,-
SSa.35. Great Britain got almost half
of This money. having received a total
Of 4277, 100000 France was a close
second. having received S3.04I .974,77
| Italy was third. having received ST.
G2Q.922. 81. and Belgium fourth, the
amount advanced to her having aggre-
gated S343, $4,000 The other coun-
tries that received help were Cuba,
/ CZecho-S loyakia. Greece, Liberia, Rou-
mania and Serbia.
The unpaid interest on the cash adj
vanced to foreign governments on ac-
count of the war now amounts to S4G3,-
21I,G13. divided among the countries
rs follows: Belgium, $16,S22, 07S;
, Cuba, $5OO.6S6; Czecho-Slovakia. 81
ll5.204; France S139,9O4, 272; Great
Britain. S211S2S. $50; Greece. $144,S0S;
Italy. 79J95,5C9 Liberia. $500; Rou-
MANIA $l,lG3.359; Russia $3.50. 800
and Serbia, $1,340,G0G.
Government Accepts Certificates,
This government. in lieu OF cash in
tcrest. is taking certificates of indebt-
ednesS. These certificates of indebted
ness are signed in the name of the re-
Spective debtor governments by repre-
sentatives of such governments desig-
mated To the treasury by the depart
ment Of state as being authorized to
! sign in the. name and on behalf OF the
respective governments. The earlier
certificates of indebtedness bore inter-
est at the rate of 3 per cent, but this
/ government is now requiring the debt
or countries to pay a per cent rate.
/ Great Britain has recently indicated
that she hopes to be prepared shortly
/ to begin reducing her debt. Treasury
officials are of the opinion that when
/ the British government does begin to
settle up. the debt will be quickly
wiped out France, according to this
/ governments information may not be
: in position TO pay for a good while.
/ The same is true of Italy. and of
I course there is small expectation that
Belgium will he ready to return the
cash that was advanced to her for
some time.
Apparently there is no inclination
ether in the executive department or
in the legislative department of this
government TO crowd any of the go7-
ernments that received cash for war
purposes. TO the contrary. the prevail
/ ing view appears to be that the United
/ States should be willing to wait until
the countries can pay without feeling
! the pinch too keCnly. 1t is recalled in
this connection that when. during the
most critical stages of the war, the
United States was called on to advance
cash in such large sums the policy was
heartily approved by the people of the
United States.
In some quarters there has been more
or less criticism OF the action of this
government in advancing nearly $780,,
! 100000 to Russia, but these loans kept
that nation in the war much long
er than 1t otherwise would have stayed
and held the German troops on the
eastern front.
+, 1t is an interesting fact that the
United States is today the only gov
eminent in the world that is absolutely
independent financially This being
tho coSa CIV tho trpa SIlIv officials