New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-02-13
Houston Tells Committee
Great Britain Has Made
Repeated Efforts to In
duce U. S. to Drop Claim
Plea Always Met
With Disapproval
France Also Sought to
| Have Obligation Wiped
Out, Secretary S VS.

From The TrieH'te's Wosh.notor yarede
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-After
Secretary of the Treasury Houston
had told the Senate Foreign ReIa~
tions Committee in executive session
to-day that Great Britain had made
repeated advances TO this country
for the cancellation of her $4,000
100000 debt to the United States.
it became known the committee had
information that President Wilson
at the peace conference assured the
representatives of the powers thai
as soon as the treaty was ratified
by the Senate he would exert. every
effort to have the entire Allied debt
Of s10,000,000,00 wiped out.
The Secretary told the commit
tee that British overtures were
made at the time of the peace con-
ference and subsequently. He said
he had been sounded on the sub,
ject since he took Office as Secre-
tary Of the Treasury. He added
that this government had invaria-
bly, disapproved of the proposals.
Secretary Houston was not asked
by the committee whether any OF
the other Allied nations had sought
to have their debts Cancelled. It Is
known, however, that the French
government took soundings on the
matter while Carter Glass was Sec
retary Of the Treasury. The att.
}tpde Of this ,govergsyasgt an,
favorable and DO fornla! proposals
were made. .s s,s,
Wilson's Pledge Long Known
The committee has known unof-
ficially for some time Of the Presi-
dents assurances at the peace con-
ference, according to one member.
Information regarded Mr.. Wilson's
promises was given 70 memb( Of
the committee while the controversy
over ratification was on, and it has
been talked over repeatedly in Fog-
eign Relations Committee circles.
Bhis explains why so much conf
dence was felt by Republican lead
ers in the Senate that the Allied
powers would accept any reserva-
tions which the United States might
see fit to add to the treaty or that
part Of the treaty containing the
league covenant.
7 1t appears that after the treaty
failed Great Britain did not abar~
don efforts to bring about cancelle.
tion OF the debt.
Secretary Houston appeared before
1 the committee at hiss own request He
desired TO make a complete statement
TO the committee, he said. with respect
| 60 the foreign loans and the neEotia-
tions looking TO replacing short tipae
! securities Of foreign governments witt
| long time obligations. He was closeted
with the committee for nearly three
hours and was asked many questions.
Although members oS the committees
were reticent about the hearing, IL was
authoritatively admitted that Crest
Britain IS the country TO which Secre-
tary Houston referred few days age
when he was before the Judiciary Com.
| mittee and said one nation proposed
cancellation OF its debt, At that time
he declined to say what nation he
| meant.
Britain's Efforts Renewed
Repeated and distinct advances wrera
made by Great Britain for the cancel
I iatiou OF its debt" said one Senator
alter the meeting. "The matter was
first taken up by Great Britain at thu
peace conference. Since Mr. Houston
efforts have been made by Great Brit,
ain to get her debt cancelled. These
advances have invariably been turned
| down by this government"
In the light OF Secretary Rousson,s
| testimony, J. Austen Chamberlain.
British Chancellor OF the Exchequer,
was correct when he said tA a reeers
speech that Great Britain had propo ,ad
cancellation Of its debt to this country
and met with an unfavorable resnonss
| Chairman Lodge Of the Foreign Reia.
tione Committee, although declining to
go into details, admitted that MY.
iChamberlain's speech was correct
Secretary Houston, in addition co
telling about the proposed cancellation
OF debt, informed the committee of the
loans 60 the different countries and the
commitments of this government. Hs
repeated the substance of his letter u,
Senator Lodge, recently published. to
the effect no more credits would b,s
established or commitments made. he
already has given the Judiciary Com
mittee most of the details in a pubic
session. He also told the COMMITTEES
just what progress had been made TO.
ward refundIng or exchanging short
time obligations for longtime obliga-
tions.
Explanation Satisfactory"
At the close of the meeting Repub-
lican Senators as we'll as Democrats
said the showing made by the Secretary
was very satisfactory"
Mr.. Houston has heretofore said, and
he repeated to-day, that while no mors
commitments would be made, this gov.