The Washington times., 1921-01-02
us. DUPEOBY
GREAT BRITAIN
-DENMAN.
Former Ship Head Charges Loan
Was Obtained Through Du-
plicity and Deception.

the British Treasury, to negotiate
an extension Of time in the payment
Of England's huge debt to the United
States, William Denman, Of Cali
fornia, ex-chairman of the United
States Shipping Board, has ad-
dressed letter to every member Of
Congress inviting attention to the
circumstances surrounding the
original British loan, and charging
that it was obtained by Arthur Bal
four through "duplicity and decep-
ton"
WAS HERE IN 1917.
Denman was one OF the American
negotiators with the British mission
when IL came to this country In 1917.
In his letter he indorses the renewal
OF the loan. but suggests that II
should not be renewed with that
naive trustfulness which so intensincj
the shock OF the disclosure Of its sim
plicity." The letter said;
"In the spring OF 1917 the Bdlfour
mission to the United States secured
for Great Britain loan of upward
OF four billion dollars. 1t was
willing transaction between liberal
America and liberal Britain. Had the
receptions used in procuring II bcc"
known 20 our Government the con.
alteration of the Ioan probably would
have Ind less of good will and more
Of substantial security for our mn
tiOnnl Interest In the Pacific.
Great Britain is now seeking TO
renew this loan and substitute distant
payment notes for its maturing obli-
cation. This seems timely opportu-
nifty TO point out a typical case OF that
duplicity and lack OF candor in Brit
aims foreign representatives, which
have placed "A barrier between the lib
erals of both countries. They haze
partly destroyed that sympathetic re-
lationship, toward the creation OF
which Mr.. Bryce tNiscount Bryce ana
men of his spirit have so much con-
tributcd. They have greatly ham
pered the similar task Of Ambassador
Geddes and our quiet but heipfui
friend. Mr.. Frederick.
1T Is perhaps well that the testi-
mony which ] am about to oner con-
corning the negotiation of this loan
comes from one OF English antecedents
and mt sustaining any blood reIa-
tionship to those now suffering UNI
der the atrocities in Ireland.
EXAMPLE OF DUPLICITY.
"Mr. Balfour arranged for these
moneys in the month of May, 1917.
His protestations OF deep friendship
for the interest of the United states
filled our press and warmed his audi
tors in the halls of Congress and at
the tables where our hospitality was
extended to him.
"WhIie he wns making them. the
ink WINS hardly dry on the last OF the
three notes constituting the sO-cnlied
secret shnntung treaties. which. from
naval stundpOint. destroyed the
Island Of Guam. probably our most
valuable naval base In the rncinc.
Japan. our riVnl there. wns by
agreement with Great Britain con-
armcd In the possession OF the Mn
rienne group OF islands. "hich
placed nm unsurmOuntnbleb barrier be-
tween us and the north Asiattc const
and the Japanese islands.
"Great Britnin's price for this was
the british control OF the islands Of
the Soutb Pacific, which In the event
Of bo.tiIItIes TO which such diplomacy
inevitably tends, isolated Guam from
the Philippines.
Curtains action was comparable
to a secret treaty with Germany, say
thirty years ago. whereby, TOT a
price, we agreed to secure her the
island of Helgoland.
at is obvious that Mr.. Balfour
owed to us this disclosure of the
existence of these agreements. why
he did not require no further eNplana-
ton than his quest of the four bill
lions of dollars.
III will help liberal England to
understand the growing mistrust of
America toward her to know TINT
there was mn active deception. In nd
ditIou to suppression of the facts, nt
the time the Ioan was negotiated.
HEPRODUCEs COLLOQUY.
"At the first session of the confer
ence between the Balfour Mission and
the American conferees. the latter
consisted of Secretary Lansing, Mr..
Polk and the writer. On that occasion
the following colloauy occurred be-
tween Mr.. Balfour and myself. This
came after Mr. Lansing had in a gen
oral statement, outlined the scope OF
our deliberations. when the writer
addressed Mr.. Balfour substantially
as follows:
81 trust that you will understand
nv frankness about certain condl-
lions prevailing in Congress. Much
of your public life has been spent as
a parliamentarian and I may feel as
sured of your sympathetic apprecia-
ton of the difficulties under which |
am laboring in attempting to procure
drastic war legislation. There is a
strong anti-British sentiment In Ger
tain grbups in Congress. ] believe !
can help hold this in check. IL ] have
your assurance that there viii be a
full disclosure of all the agreements
between the Allies. affecting the
interests OF the United states and
general world shipping conditions. ]
will not disclose any of these matters
to them but my position Will be
strengthened II I can assure them
that we know all
"Nr. Balfour replied to this that
that was the very purpose OF the con-
ference and that all such matters
would be fully disclosed to the
American confcrees.
oil. never redeemed his promise
md our faith In him led uS to he
,,cyc that we knew NIL. Instead, he
continued his protcstations OF friend
shin. which, with his great personal
charm and rhetorical gifts, created
4, confidence 40 warm and so profound
Tint II strains our imagination TO he
I,cye tho underlying deception.
4