New-York tribune., 1921-02-23
Take Islands
For W an Loans.
Says Beveridge
Former Indiana Senator Tells
SonsofRevolution Foreign
Possessions Near u. S. Are
Acceptable i'm Lieu of Gold
Speaks at Holiday Meeting
Other Bodies Celebrate the
I89th Anniversary of the
Birth of Washington

Former United States Senator Albert
J. Beveridge. of Indiana, in his address
yesterday at the Washingtons Birth
day celebration of the Sons of the Rev
olution, at Carnegie Hall, suggested
that the United States accept posses
sions of the Allied nations in the West
ern Hemisphere as payment or par
tial payment for their loans from this
country.
Various other celebrations were held
by patriotic societies in different parts
of the city yesterday on the 1S9th ami
versary of Washiugtons birth
Robert 0lyphant, president of the
Sons OF the Revolution, ptesided at the
Carnegie Hall meeting. Speaking in
reference to the settlement of the in
debtedness of foreign na,ions to the
United States, ex-senator Beveridge
said;
Great Britain owns most of the
West Indies, that chain Of Stands that
guards the Gulf OF Mexico. She also
owns the Bermudass on our southeast,
and q small but stTntegic part of Cen
trail America called British Honduras.
None of these possessions are OF the
slightest value to her except as naval
stations, and even as naval stations
tney are of no use to her except as
bases for attack upon us, which is, Of
sessions are worth considerable to us
as outposts of defense.
France, like Great Britain, has q
fsr-fung colonial empi.ee-rsext to that
OF her mighty and triumphant ally, the
most extensive and protitable aggre-
cation of dependencies 4n earth. much
greater in area than the UNITED States,
including all our territories and pos
sessions, insignificant tems of her
colonial possessions arc her West In
dian islands, part of the Chain most of
which Great Britain ownsL These isl
snds are worthless to France, but Of
some value to us. Might they not be
utilized, with mutual a3vantage TO
France and America, in he reduction
of French indebtedness!
Islands for Loa ms
"As a cold financial ira nsaction, the
transfer of these islands b the United
States would go but .ittl way toward
extinguishing Frances OBJ legations, but
would it not be good spol icy to cancel
part of our loans our lster republic
in exchange for Martin jque, Guade-
loupe and St. Martin? w build not such
an arrangement be far1seeing and
broad minded statesmanship on both
sides? Would it not relieve Frances
monetary distress, raise her purchas-
ing power and save her aelf-respect,
which shrinks from the Thought Of ac-
cepting aims ?"
Old fire lighters of Brooklyn. mem
hers of the Kings County Volunteer
Firemen's Association, observed Wash
ington's Birthday yesterday by holding
their thirtieth annual parade, despite
the unfavorable weather. Tqhe ranks of
the red shirters" are thinning out
rapidly, and, compared to former pa
rades, yesterdays presented, thin line.
there being only forty in the parade.
Before the parade a nuru Der of the
veterans marched to the home Of
Colonel William Hestert at 81 Remsen
Street, and stood at atteh tion while
their band played Aud Lang Syne."
When the first company, lad by John
II. Conk, grand marshal, rt ached the
reviewing stand at Borough Fall, it was
greeted by former Governpr Alfred +.
Smith and Mrs. Smith and. the official
reviewing officer, COMMISSIONER of Pub
lie Works Joseph L. GuildeN.
K. of c. Assist at Miss
The Knights of Columbus Yield their
annual mass for their dece aVed mem
bers at st. Patrick's Cathedral. under
the auspices of the EcW York Chapter,
virtually all the forty-one con ncils at
tending.
The eelebrant Of the mass was the
Right Rev, Mousignor John j. Dunn,
chancellor of the archdiocese, chaplain
of the New York Chapter. The deacon
was the Dew, Daniel Cunnion, he sub
deacon was the Rev. John Sullivan, and
the Rev. Henry w Hammer Was the
master of ceremonies.
At the conclusion OF the mass the
Rev. Francis p Duffy. war hero and
chaplain of the l65th Infantry,
preached the sermon, in which he paid
tribute to Washington.
The Daughters of the American Rev