The Washington herald., 1921-02-13
Senators Allege President
Assented to Proposals
By Great Britain.
SAY PLAN HINGED
ON TREATY'S FATE
Houston Says British
Asked Cancellation of
Loan at Paris.
By ROBERT BARRY.

\ closely guarded secret to the
effect that the Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations learned sometime
ago that President Wilson had as
sented at Paris to the British pro-
posal for cancellation of all allied
war debts and had promised to use
his influence with Congress and the
American people TO obtain remls-
sion Of the $4,000, 100000 owed the
United States, leaked from the COM
mittee rooms yesterday following
the appearance of Secretary Of the
Treasury Houston.
The information in possession OF
the Senate committee was said to
have been gained from a member
of the American delegation at the
Paris peace conference. The man
was named, although with the warn
ing that he would be obliged by the
nature of things to deny ever nav
ing made the statement. 1t was
learned further that the matter had
been discussed on several occasions
by Republican members of the For
clSn lSeldIlOnS OOEnInltlte.
Hinged on Ratification.
According to the statement made
in d competent quarter, President
Wilson was represented as having
attached but one condition to his
support Of the British proposal for
remission of the war debts. That
way, it was said, that the treaty OF
Versailles, embodying the covenant
of the league of nations, be ratlhed
by the Senate of the United States
Republican Senators who were
named among those in possession OIL
thu information were represented as
having regarded British interest IN
ratification of the treaty as being
based on something more material
than a desire for an association win
the United States in the league OF
nations. The now famous letter -Dy
F,arl Grey following his return 70
England after serving as British
Ambassador to the United states
stating a readiness to accept the
Lodge reservations, which Mr.. VIII
son regarded as nullifying the
league covenant, it was stated was
read in the light of what Senators
had been informed as to the Presl-
dents position with reference 70 wal
debts.
Cancellation Asked.
There was nothing in the conn
DENTAL testimony given before the
senate committee yesterday by sec
retarv Houston bearing in any way
-, the story of the President
1romise to promote the cause OF the
var debt cancellations. Mr.. Hous'
+on did confirm the statement maze
recently at Birmingham. England
bv I Austen Chamberlain, chancel'
~ NJ the exchequer, to the eHec'
hat Great Britain had proposed re-
mission of all allied war debts.
secretary Houston declared thai
Great Britain had approached th'
Trnited states on several occasions
tbe Frst being at Paris during tn'
sessions Of the peace conference. Ht
stated that the British suggesteS
nat the United States remit tn'
60 600. .OOO. 900 odd advanced by IN
treasury during the war WIN I'M
,,,5erstandinE that Great Britain
nI,I5 cancel debts owed her b!
France. Italy and other allIes'
Proposal Rejected.
Mr.. Houston discussed freely anc
4, soue detail matters which he de
oIynad to reveal in the open sessions
h.yoro the Senate judiciary Com
1,i,tee. He declared that every time
,Le war debt cancellation was
broached at the Treasury the pro
nosaI had been rejected. He said
mat France had not proposed re-
r,ission of her debt, but that she
rad sought the views Of American
oFicials relative to the position ot
this government.
secretary Houston's statement t.
the committee that the British lead
e-s had first suggested cancellation
~ the debts during the peace con
terence sessions at Paris led to dis
closure Of the Senate committec'l
information that President Wilson
bad at that time approved the plai
and agreed to promote 1t in tn,
TTnited states were he successful il
4 nj. effort to obtain ratification o
the treaty Of peace.
Source Protected.
Inquiry as to- the reasons for tn
secrecy thrown about the informa
tfon ELECTED a reply to the effec
that Republican members OF tn
foreign relations committee wer
content to have knowledge of tn
matter. It was stated that the Re
publican Senator who gained the in
formation originally from an Ameri
can official at the peace conferenc
did not wish to place his informan
in an embarrassing position befor
the public nor force him or tn
white House to enter a denial.
Copyright, 1871, Public Ledger Coz