Evening star., 1921-02-15
SPURNS
DEBT CANCEL|NG
His Attitude While in Europe
Decidedly Adverse, Law
renee Says.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright, 1921


defending President Wilson from
attack for some of his attitudes at the
peace conference may not be fashion
able, but in the interests of fair play
those who know the facts concerning
the alleged promise of Mr.. Wilson to
secure the cancellation of the allied
war debt have no hesitancy in saying
tnat far from welcoming the sug-
gestions made informally to him he
actually resented the idea.
one man who was with the Presi-
dent during the peace negotiations
tens a story of a dramatic incident
that occurred at a. luncheon given to
resident Wilson by the members of
the French chamber of deputies.
which corresponds to the American
House OF Representatives. Mr.. Will
son fully expected that the affair
would be altogether social, and was
not prepared to talk shop. The presi-
dent of the French chamber was seat
ed next to Mr.. Wilson. and his at
tempts to get Mr.. Wilson to commit
some plan for the pooling Of war
debts was received with such a frown
OF disapprova1 and with such en-
phatic remarks that persons at the
table related the incident later as an
indication that SO far as Mr.. Wilson
was concerned there was no hope Of
getting him to agree to any cancella-
ton of war debts. 50
Proposal Not OMeiaIIy Made,
It is true that the proposal was never
officially made to- cancel war debts, but
at least a score of different plans were
laid informally before Mr. Wilson bv
French, Italian and British experts. ali
presuming to arrange for a pooling Of
assets and liabilities, but In reality de-
signed to relieve Europe of much Of her
financial obligation to the United States.
Mr.. Wilson grew so sensitive-indeed.
SO suspicious-of these plans that the
newspaper correspondents who were
present at the Dlenary conference in
February. 1919. will not forget with
what abruptness Mr.. Wilson interrupted
the proceedings to inquire what was the
purpose of the special financial section,
which was to be a part Of the organf-
cation of the league Of nations. The
proposal was made as an amendment to
the general declaration of principles,
which had just been adopted pledging
all the countries present to league of
nations. and Premier Clemenceau read
it SO rapidly and in such perfunctory
fashion that the President showed signs
Of uneasiness and asked Mr.. Clemenceau
where the suggestion had originated and
what its purpose was. The French
premier pointed out that the powers OF
the special committee would be only ad-
visory. and that it would not interfere
with the freedom Of action Of Individual
nations.
Known to All Observers.
Everybody who was in Paris watch
ing the American peace commission
from day to day knew Of the efforts of
the European statesmen to interest
Tighten the financial burdens of Eu-
rope. Suggestions for the cancella-
ton of the allied war debt became so
numerous that Americas peace COM
missioners found it necessary in their
informal conversations with the Eu-
ropeans to make clear two points
first. that the United States was by
no means responsible for any debts
contracted or anything done in the
war prior to April. 1917, and, second.
that America could not, in Justice to
her own people. who had lent the
money through liberty bonds. accept
any suggestion even remotely affect
ing the original obligations.
The European governments how.
ever, sharing to some extent the pop-
ular conceptions abroad of Americas
"limitless" wealth. insisted upon
urging q canceilation or pooling of
war debts. The proposals made pub
lie within the last fortnight are part
of the same misunderstanding Of
Americas position, even though it
has been made plain by republicans
and democrats of influence from the
very beginning. Speeches made by
men like James NJ. Beck abroad have
often been wrongly interpreted as
the American viewpoint
False Hopes Encouraxed.
While only a few Americans or
prominence have urged the cancel
lation of the war debt, their utter
ances have been displayed in Eu~o-
pean newspapers and have to some
extent encouraged false hopes,
But the European governments
know that not only did President viii
son resent the suggestion at Paris
but that Secretary McAdoo, Secretarw
Glass and Secretary Houston have
each in their turn told European dir
lomats in unequivocal terms that tha
American people expected their Euro.
pean debtors to make good their