Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-12-26
THE WAR DEBTS.

The Chicago 1rlDlll1 q! II lew ua!S
80 contained Il long article under the
aption. What to do With the war
and while opposing cancellation it
,ropOscs Il rcfunling plan that will
nablc Europe TO pay the United States
small rate Of interest and eventually
wipe ont the obligations,
The Tribune points out that America,
having checked in its first stages {;
'uinOuS naval rivalry and laid the
oundation for a peaceful adjustment
# differences in the region where the
most serious conflict at arms was most
imminent. this country will soon be
free TO answer Europe'S query: what
Will America do TO Help U.s."
The United States refused to enter
he league of nations and to make Il
realty pledging support to France in
he event Of an attack from Germany.
This country has also declined 10 make
things have, of course, been resented
by many Europeans and our people
lave been made to realize that this
country has suffered in world estinla-
ion. But Americans generally under
stand that our own interests come first
md that we must take care of our
,wn before we take care Of others.
Any other course would be llnwise. as
It would render us unable to do what
We would like to do for suffering Eu-
rope. In speaking Of tle proposed
,ancelling of debts the Chicago paper
says:
Cancellation of debts to America
seems to be proposed on two grounds.
which we may call economic ana moral.
''rhe latter is especially felt by the
French. It's theory is that il the war
was a defense Of democracy or Of our
several countries from conquest on mil
tarist domination. America was under
he same obligation as France or Eng
'and or Italy to cont tribute to it's cost !:
whereas America remained ont of the
struggle until 1917. profiting by supply
ing the fighting nations ut Il high rate,
and in the end contributing only 90
900 lives. as against the million on more
each from France and England. to say
nothing of material sacrifices. In this
view the loans granted Europe ought
not to be counted as loans. but as Il
contribution to the common cause.
There are many Americans who would
assent to this theory now and these
If course favor Immediate cancella-
|tiOn. On Armistice day we think it
DOssible and even probable that AM
rrican opinion in the main would have
approved this theory and accepted its
Implication. We might then have voted
4 general cancellation. Not so today.
Aside from any modification In the
generally prevailing conception of the
UHueTIlllS causes I'll INC VIII anu VI
its essential Significance. the course of
vents mt Paris in 1919 and in Europe
since the armistice has changed rad
caIly the American attitude. The peace
contrivcd at Versailles has not squared
with the lofty conception of the war
On which the proposal for cancellation
IN moral grounds is justified.
1--WE will not elaborate on this phase
of the question. EXCEPT perhaps to point
put that. if America made Il less heavy
contribution to the cost of victory. it
took virtually no material profits from
it. whereas every other contributor left
the Paris conference with large gains
If territory and other substantial htne-
fits IF we are to speak of contrilu-
sions this mt least must enter into the
accounting.
.But passing by this rather compli-
Gated moral aspect. whose factors run
far back into history. our own and Eu-
ones. what of cancellation from the