The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-08

New York, February 7.-(SpeciaL)- China promptly paid the large in- demnity fixed upon for the losses oc- casioned by the Boxer war including considerable amount to the United States, President Roosevelt learned that the indemnity which we received from China was much in excess or the actual losses and expenses entailed upon. the United States for our share in suppressing the Boxers. Thereupon tho excess over the actual cost to the United States was returned to China voluntarily and without any solicita- tion by China for this refund.
 No other nation which received an indemnity from China returned any part of it, although it was the under standing that as was the case with the United States, the share in the in demnity of the amount received by other nations was considerably in ex- cess of the cost entailed upon them for their services in putting an end to the Boxer uprising.
 This record made by the United Statse serves as text for the discus sion of the proposition which is now made in Europe that Great Britain will waive the loans which she made to the allies provided only that the United States pass over receipted fbill for the loans which this country made to the European nations. the az gre.sate of which is nearly $l0,ooo'o ooo.- O00 The precedent which we set In the case of the Chinese indemnity makes 1t clear that the United States Is always willing to do what is right even what is merely expedient in our financial dealings with other nations
 But 1t must be reported that not a little concern is felt here and in Wash ington at the recent demoncstrations made in Europe In favor of absolute and complete waiving of the loans which the United States made to the allies. The arguments which arc used In favor of action of this kind Is referred to here as being based en- tirely upon sentiment. It was a sense of sentimental justice which led the United States to return to China that part of her. indemnity which was in excess of the actual cost to the United States for our share in this suppress sion of the Boxer bellian.
 Therefore 1t is evident that if the occasion and situation Justified and If there were no important economic or world encQmpassing conditions 3 i'm volved, then the United States would " W s4ttn8 " " . ~4<ASA CH<AA CAy " sentiment
 WHAT IS THE SENTIMENT
 The sentimental aonsiderations which in Europe are now offered in justifi- cation of the waivtng of the deht of $1O, 00o, 900. 600 which former allies still owe us are based upon tho statement that for considerably more than two years of the war. France. England Italy and Belgium and to nome extent Japan were embattlcd not only for their own protection. but for the pro- lection of tho United States.
 Yet at the time those who were our allies afterward were thus engawed, there was no thou1ht of the protec- ton of the United etates. Tho allies turned to this country because there was no other thought than the pro- tection of themselves, 1t was tho only one which they could obtain aesistauce both In loans and in commodities.
 The fact that Lord Chalmors io ex-. pected in Washington soon after tho inauguration 6f Harding n Pfesident. comfng. It 10 asserted as | repfep6n- tativo Of Great Britain for tho put- pose of negotiating arrangemsnts with the unitsd States wherehy credt Britsin's debt of uome Sts0oo GOO, oo0 may be funded, doea not justify tho