Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-04-03
RANCE METHOD
Of L|QU|DAT|NC
DEBT ADVANCED
Unconditional Cancella-
ton Uncomfortable,
Says Maryland Solon.
German Indemnity to
Be Fixed at $15,OO0,-
100000 Is Plan.

Philadelphia, April "a plan for
the liquidation of the external obliga-
tions of every nation was presented
here Saturday night by Senator France
of Maryland, before the American
Academy of Political and Social
Science. Senator France termed un-
conditional cancellation "unconceiv-
able,' but maintaining some plan must
be adopted. as international debts block
world trade circulation, upon which
civilization is dependent, he said:
''The United States should call a
conference of the interested powers
for the purpose of proposing to them
this method of settlement or one EN-
bodying these principles. The Ger
man indemnity would be fixed at the
sum at which was tentatively agreed
upon at the Anglo French eighth con-
receive credit for at least $1,000, ,0OO,-
600 on this sum for the marine cables
and for the territories in Africa and
Oceanic transferred by her the treaty
to the allied and associated powers.
Restore Commerce.
''This method of liquidation would
enable Germany to at once begin to
purchase from England, France, Rus
sa, and the United States what she So
desperately needs for the rehabilitation
of her industries. The United States
would then purchase from the allied
and associated powers for at least
81, 900, 100000. or possibly-and it
would 60 SO far if necessary-for the
full amount of the debts owed by the
the marine cables and these territories
in Africa and Oceania transferred by
Germany to the allied and associated
powers.
This operation would give us hqui-
dation not by cancellation but by sub
stitution of valuable assets for secur-
tiles of doubtful value"
International Cooperation.
Defining this course as one of in
ternational cooperation rather than
Imperialism, Senator France contin-
ued
THE only way by which the in
creased obligations of the world can
be met is by theeincrease of the worlds
income through an increase in the pro-
ductivity of the relatively undeveloped
portions of the world--notably China.
Russia and Africa. Under this plan,
the United States would secure the
cables and additional territory to the
extent of more than a million square
miles. or approximately one-third of
her present territory, the major part
of this being the valuable territories
in east, west and southwest Africa.
We would cancel the allied debt with
the understanding that we would go
into Africa to which we owe a pecu-
liar obligation. in which more than ten
millions of our citizens are virtually
interested and who many of them
CO. operate with France and England
there in carrying out great construct
i've policy such as we have had with
reference to the Philippines.
Against Alliances.
"No league or alliance to preserve
the status quo, to solidify the world
into a fixed mold to preserve the in
tegrity of empire, regardless of how
the integral parts of empire were
secured and Of how they may be held.
will bring peace. The causes of war
are definite, ascertainable aud remote
Such concert Of nations for inter-
national cooperation as I have pro-
posed-and this suggested method OF
debt cancellation is but part of the
work for the removal of
these causes by the elevation and edu-
cation of men. by the spread of civiliza-
ton by the substitution of develop
ment for ruthless exploitation of those
great principles to which America is
devoted, which will remove injustice
and oppression. the most ruthless
causes Of war and revolution"
United States Senator Medile Nc
Cormick of Illinois, said:
II shall not abandon one iota of our
debt until disarmament among the ma
tions in Europe has been accomplished,
and until we have assurance that the
states of Europe will not fall back
again to that condition which led them
70 fha world war"