The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-03-26
France Claims
Old Debt Unpaid
Statement Made in French Cabi-
net That United States Owes
Millions For Revolutionary
Loan

lca had ever repaid the advances TO
her made by Louis XVI Of France
during the American Revolution.
raised recently by a writer in the
newspaper, L'Eclair, was brought up
in the senate during last nights de-
bate on the budget by Senator Gau-
am dc Nillame, representing the de-
partment Of lie Manche.
Il said last year from this ros-
trum," the senator declared, that
Louis XVI in 1873, in the name of the
French nation and TO save the young
American republic, had loaned Amer
lea S00,000,00O francs"
Senator Gaudin de Villaine calcu-
lated that at per cent this sum now
would exceed $4,000, 100000 francs, or
sufficient not only to pay what
France owes to America, but also
what France owes to England.
"A Washington telegram, replying
| within the last "A hours to the point
| Of which you speak. gives the dates
| at which this debt was repaid" in
tcrrupted Senator Brangier
This debt never has beer paid"
exclaimed Senator Gaudin de Viii
loine.
THE telegram in question gives
| the exact date sof the payments" ="
| replied Senator Rrangicr.
Il had, my dear colleague, the
same thoughts as you. and when /
was in the United States I put the
question TO an American newspaper
he same question you have raised
today. / was told that the United
States had repaid. I scarcely believed
t, because the reply in a way was
vague and indefinite, while the tele-
gram from Washington. to which ]
alluded, gives the dates and terms
of the payments. 1t comes from a
source which seems above sus. .,icion."
"a telegram is not a historical
document" interpOsed Senator Jules
lie Lahayc.
Il must ask pardon" said Senator
| Brangier but it would be danger
Gus for the good relations which it j..
Indispensable to maintain with the
United States to open such a discus
lion if really this debt has been
paid
That telegram is canard," re.
marked Senator Dominique de La
haye, causing murumurs from man,
benches.
Until there is more complete in.
formation" said Senator Gaudin d,
Hillainc, Il assert that it has not
'cen paid. and await knowledge io
whom It has been paid"
Turning 20 Senator Dominuue d.
-.ahayc, Senator Brangier exclaimed
Will make an appointment with
you week hence. my dear colleague
and we will see who Is correct, you
~ l."
You put your faith in a telegram >
said Jules de Lahaye. To this, how
ever, Senator Brangier did not reply
Senator Gaudin de Villaine resumed
"A course by America such as
have suggested, would honor Ameri-
ca infinitely more and would be more
interesting for us than seeing from
time to time pilgrimages come 70
place flowers on the tomb of Mar.
quis de Lafayette. That is, as said
last year, an historical falsehood, for
Marquis de Lafayette. like Count de
| Rochambeau and so many others who
crossed the ocean century and n
quarter ago, were simply pawns on
the royal chess board"
This caused n display of agitation
| ny many senators.
The subject was then dropped and
the senate proceeded with Other
matters.
Washington, March 23 (By the AS
Sociatcd Fress) officials
again insisted today that the search
OF files revealed no unpaid debts to
france despite the assertion in the
French senate last night of Senator
GaadIn de Villainc that Louis XVI
in l77S in the name of the French
nation and to save the young Ameri-
can republic had loaned America
SOo,OOO,OOO francs" which the sena-
tor said had never been repaid.
The possibility of an unpaid debt
to France was brought up about a
year ago, one treasury official said,
/ ana to answer the question then pro-
pounded a careful scrutiny was made
! or treasury records. The search
showed. this official added, that the
| United states had repaid all. the
! debts of which there was record.
Several treasury officials directed at
( tcntiOn to a history Of the national
loans OF the nltcu states written In
1882 by Rafael Bayloy of the treasury
| department.. The volume now exceed
! inG,y rare shows that France made
| four loans aGgreEating $6,352,5OO to
| the American colonies for proSecu-
ton of the war of independence. Va
rious payments on these loans the
Baylcy history shows, were made in
the form Of tobacco and otherwise in
addition TO cash. These payments
left one balance Of $1,S4S, 900 which
was merged into the y per cent
stock of 1895 final payment having
been made in 1915. The only other
balance the history further said
amounted to $4,000 when it was
merged into the 4 y per cent. stock
Of 1875 and final payment was made
I'm 1908.