The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-07-17
Senator Reeds Plea
for Soldiers Bonus


Esesspt From Speech in Senate Friday During
Stormy Debate attendant Upon Recommttat Of
the Bonus Bill to the Finance Committee.
Mr. President: There is another obssrvasion which
desire to make. Are we to postpone doing
what the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Mccumbsr)
insists Is an act Of high justiceand the Senator from
Indiana (Mr Watson) seems to echo the sentimsntn-
til foreign countries shall do certain othsr things? Shall
postpone it and postpone the collection Of the interest
the foreign debt whom Great Britain is expanding accord
ing to the best estimates can get over year
to increase the sse Of navy that is now nearly equal to
the combined naves Of the earthncteasng the sire Of
her navy for what purpose and to fight whom9 Austria
has been dsmembered Germany PROSTATE and her Last
vessel taken from her; France has navy Of not great
sse and certainly Great Britain will not claim she Il
arming against Franco Japan Is building navy, but
Japan and England have alliance which ties them TO-
gether in way that al member Of this body, do not
like to see For whom then IL this vast armament pre-
pared? For what potential rival In world trade Is 1t pre-
pared Why necessary for her to increase her heet?
Does the United States? Does she believe that
this country, that engages in noswas Of conquest that
seeks to seize territory that undertakes the domino
ton OF no protesting people, will ever attack her? Why
should require long conferences to determine whether
she is to expend this year navy and yet
not pay to the United States the interest due? put to
you again. Senator'S the soldiers Of the United States
to wait for justice for themselves first until the bonds
have been issued and second shall they wait until Great
Britain has completed her navy? Shall forgive debts
postpone the payment of interest in order that the
wills may ring and the triphammers may sound they
pound out the steel slabs for English floating fort
resses?
say that this method of dealing with foreign coun-
tries smacks too much of favoritism to suit think
Government should insist that any country that is
able to build ought to be able to pay the in
terest its debts and that American soldiers should
not be postponed in what admitted by those who spon
sored this bill is justice to them in order that naves may
be completed or military programs carried out.
Sir since the last battle flag was furled upon the
frontier OF France since we set up by our pse d1x If
you please in connection with Great Britain and other
countries Poland that country British statesmen have
finally said in violation Of its obligations to those who
had created it, without warrant without right invaded Rus
STA for 300 400 miles, expended huge of money
kept her soldiers in the field and away from productive
activities. To carry that directly contributed
in supplying the civil population of Poland with from
something like 100000 to worth of goods
How much contributed indirectly through the sale of
war supplies unable to state. say that it is time
to tell the countries OF Europe to quit fighting and to be-
gin paying.
Greece obtained from the United States just 30 days
ago. and under the present Administration the payment
of over ,000 It claimed that there was an
old commitment 1t is admitted that in that joint COM
mtment France and England and that France and
England refused to put up their part of the money but
put up 100000 The Secretary of the Treasury
states he does not intend to pay the remainder of it be-
cause the terms of the loan have not been met.
But we paid that money; and what is Greece doing
pray, with that money? With that money or other
money of which it takes the place. Greece is keeping
armies in the field trying to enlarge her territory trying
to extend her domains, trying to take land
from somebody It costs money to organize armies to 90
out and take land and have had troubles in other
parts of the world that am not going to weary the
Senate at this late hour by discussing
As long we sit by and say to these people, "You
need not pay what you u.s., long as we con-
tinue to contribute to them credit long they will con-
tinue in state of turmoil in favor of not POSITION
ing the payment Of that which is just to the soldiers of
the United States norder that may continue policy
that mistake in its inception has been mistake all
along the line, and is rapidly approaching tragedy
Moreover, while we are talking about paying SOL
ders not paying them while those who sponsor this
bill say that the debt is just and is Immediately due