New-York tribune., 1921-03-24
u. S. Debt of
rs Debated In
French House
Paris. Senator Insists We
Owe 81 Billion Francs at
3 r. G. On Original 500
Million Louis XVI Loan
Others Uphold America
De Villaine Would Prefer
Settlement, He Says, to
Lafayette Tomb Flowers

PARIS, March 90 (By The Associated
Press The question whether America
had ever repaid the advances to her
made by Louis XVI of France during
the American Revolution, raised recent
~ by "a writer in the newspaper
/ 'Eclair, was brought up in the Senate
during last nights debate on the bud
get by Senator Gandin de Viliaine, rep
resenting the Department Of La
Manche.
n said last year from this rostrum,' p
the Senator declared, "that Louis XVI
in 1878, in the name Of the French ma
tion and to save the young American
Republic, had loaned America 500 ,O0O.-
600 francs"
Senator. de Villaine calculated that at
3 per cent this sum now would exceed
$1,000, 100000 francs, or sufficient not
only to pay what France owes to Amer
lea but also what FyaRee owes to Eng
land.
Tells of TeIegraphic Denial
"a Washington telegram, replying
within the last twenty -four hours to
the point OF which you speak, gives the
dates at which this debt was repaid, !"
interrupted Senator Brangier.
This debt never has been paid" ex-
claimed Senator de Villaine.
The telegram in question gives the
exact dates Of the payments,S replied
Senator Brangier. II had, my dear col
league, the same thoughts as you, and
when Twas in the United States put
the question to an American newspaper
the same question you have raised to-
gay. was told that the United States
mad repaid ! scarcely believed it., be-
cause the reply in way was vague and
IN 11n11deiiinlte. while the telegram from
Washington, to which alluded, gives
the dates and terms of the payments
1t comes from a source which seems
above suspicion"
"A telegram is not an historical docu-
ment, interposed Senator Jules Della
haye.
Fears Estranging Nations
i must ask pardon" said Senator
Brangier, "but it would be dangerous
for TIE good relations which it is in
ddlspensable to maintain with the
United States to open such a discus
sion If really this debt has been paid"
Ihat telegram. is q canard," re-
marked Senator Dominique Deiahaye,
causing murmurs from many benches.
Until there is more complete in
formation" said Senator de yillaine.
II assert that it has not been paid, and
i await knowledge to whom it has been
paid"
Turning to Senator Dominique Della
'haye, Senator Brangier exclaim ed: ~
wifi make an appointment with you
week hence, my dear colleague, and
we will see who Is right, you or T."
"You put your faith in a telegram. !"
said Jules Delahaye. To this, however.
Senator Brangier did not reply. SEN
ator dc Villaine resumed:
Slurs Work Of Lafayette
"A course by America such as have
suggested would honor America in
finitely and would be more intere sting
for us than seeing from time to time
piagrlmages come to place flowers on
the tomb of Marquis de Lafayette.
That Isl. as ! said last year, an his
torical falseAood, for Marquis de La
fayette, like Count de Rochambeau
and so many others who crossed the
ocean a century and quarter ago,
were simply pawns ON. the royal chess
board"
This caused display of agitation
by many Senators.
such solution which any govern
ment truly concerned with the ma
tional interest should already have
brought about" continued Senator de
Villaine, 81 hope will be stirred UP
by the present Minister of Finance.
who, according to his own expression. n.
has lin taking over the affairs of the
preceding ministry recognized the
formidable disorganization Of our
The subject then was dropped and
the Senate proceeded with other matters.