The Sun and the New York herald., 1920-09-08
POLAND PLEADS
FOR U.S CREDIT
Must Get 1t, Says Grabski,
Unless America Is Prepared
to Lose $3.50, 100000.
WHEAT is GREATEST NEED
Vast Sum at Stake if Buffer
Against Bolshevism Is
Made It's Prey.
BY LAURENCE HILLS,

Staff Correspondent Of THE Sun AND NEW
YoRK HERALp Copyright, 1890, BY THE Sun
AND New York HERALD.
PARIS, Sept. 7.--"Unless the United
States has $169,000,00O to throw away
by letting Poland become the prey OF
the Bolshevikl she will have to con-
tinue patiently lending financial and
economic assistance, and perhaps even
military aid. until the Red menace is
entirely crushed. Eor the present there
is no possibility Of an early repayment
Of the huge sums we owe the United
States, but we are confident she will
not desert us now" said Ladislas Grab
ski Polish Minister of Finance, to
THE SUN AND New YoRK HERALD cor
respondent this afternoon.
He Is negotiating with the French
Government for a large supply OF ann
munition and army clothing which will
be paid for In exports OF gasolene and
sugar. but France, like the United
States. will have to live and wait long
for payment, as Poland has a steadily
growing debt.
According to NJ. Grabski the indebt-
edness to the United States falls under
six cstegories, the Baldwin Locomotive,
approximatlng $1,000.000, being the
largest non-governnlent corporation in
volved. The United States Liquidation
Commission and the United States Army
claim balances of several millions each
and the United States Shipping Board
nearly s15,O00.000. The United States
Grain Corporation and the United States
Relief Administration add near $780,
100000 to Poland's unpaid accounts. this
representing purchases Of wheat during
the last two years.
we had intended meeting a part Of
these debts as soon as the harvest was
finished and we were about to commence
expectations, but the BolsheviA de-
Stroyed everything wherever they
passed" the Finance Minister said.
"As result we are economically where
We were on srmistice day"
NJ Grabski denies there has been
any waste Of Polish funds and declares
that on the contrary a Systematic eff
fort was to be made to raise increased
taxes for complete balancing Of internal
budgets. Levies on financial firms have
IHCfcdSeu ulne Lolu anu on Ot1er lnduS-
trial and commercial corporations seven
fold, while the new tax on incomes will
be as high as 80 per cent. While other
countries are relipquishing the tax de
luxe this will be maintained in Poland.
But tell America we need credit for
more wheat" insisted NJ Grabski. TT
Is the most costly problem, but we must
have It. We have nothing to offer the
United States, as she does not need the
small export surplus which we are di-
recting elsewhere. so that we can con-
tinue the struggle against Bolshevism on
telialf of our friends.
1T seems a lot to ask. but the most
significant thing in Poland to-day is the
gratitude OF the people for what the
United States has done. other natlonali-
ties came to Poland seeking advantages
OF commerce, but American help was
altruistic. They have helped solve our
sanitary problems. they have cured our
sickness and have given bread to our
hungerlng children. We arc deeply CRATE
fui for all this and will prove 1t by ac-
cepttag the heavy burden of being buff
fcTed alternately by the Germans and
Russians"