Evening star., 1921-02-23
URGES BELGIUM
PAY DEBTS IN GERMAN BONDS
CONGRESS- Gets Recommendation Asking
Passage of Legislation Upholding Agree
ment With British and French.
government on the first of May in any

government on the first of May in any
year up to 1926.
For various reasons the under
taking defined in tho above letter
was not embodied in the treaty. Bel
GUMS obligations to the United
States for advances made up to the
date of the armiStice amounted to
approximately s171.000.00O, and to
England and France they amounted.
am informed. to about S164.70 900.
In view of the special circumstances
in which Belgium became involved in
the war and the attitude of this
country toward Belgium. it was felt
that the United States might well
agree to make the same agreement
respecting pre-armistice loans to Bel
gium as England and France offered
to do.
Debt Amounts to $171..SO.OOO.
i. advances made by the Treasury to
the belgian government from the be-
ginning or the war to the armiStice
amounted to s171,7SO 600. This prin-
| clpal sum. however, includes ad-
vances of $49?,40 made to enable the
Belgians to pay the interest due No
vember 10. 1917. and $1,571, ,46s.42 to
enable the payment of the interest
due May 13. 1918. The interest on
the advances, has been paid up to
May 10. 1918, to that date having
been paid out of Treasury loans for
| which the United States holds Bel
slan obligations, which, however
were made after November Il, 1913.
the date of the arnistice This lat
ter a>vance would not come within
the terms of the agreement above
mentioned. If, therefore, the United
! states accepts payment of Belgian
tinllsaions given before the armis-
| alce by receiving corresponding
amount of German obIigations, it
| would seem that it should receive
| german obligations amounting to
Il. 1919. aye -
although it is understood that
| share of the German bonds when Re-
! cclved by Belgium. i am informed
! that the Teparation commission has
Eot as yet finally determined the de-
1 sa,is VI the issuance of the necessary
/ Tha ny me German government"
! ne copy OF the agreement between
the Belgian government and the
fresldent and the French and British
| prenlers as transmitted to Congress
| follows: oN''
M. Hymans. Ministre des Affaires
| Etranagers, Hotel Lotti. Paris.
| sir: Fhe reparation clauses of the
! draft treaty of peace with Germany
opllgate Germany to make reimburse
nlent or all sums which Belgium has
| i""So iioHl Tie allied and aSSO-
ciated governments up to Novem Der
H. 1918, on account of the violation
py Germany of the treaty of 1889. AS
evidence of such an obligation Ger
many is to make a special issue of
bonds. to be delivered to the repara-
! tion commission.
| Each of the undersigned will
recommend to the appropriate gov
ernmental agency of his government
| that, upon the delivery to the repara
tion commission of such bonds. his
government accept an amount there
of corresponding to the sums which
Belgium has borrowed from the gov
ernment since the war and up to No
vember II. 1918, together with inter.
est at per cent, unless already in.
cluded in such sums, in satisfaction
of Belgium's obligation on account
of such loans, which obligation OF
Belgium's shall thereupon be can.
celed. We are. dear Mr.. Minister
very truly yours. (Signed)
! &c. CLEMENCEAU,
'WOODROW WILSON,
! ID. LLOYD GEORGE"