The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-08-25
Hold Your Nostrils

Stencil is appearing in connection
With the shipment Of some of the two
billions worth of surplus war material
sold in France at twenty five cents
on the dollar. The cry of embargo
died down as quickly as it was made.
Not peep has been heard from the
shopkeepers land the big businesses
who at first cried that the market of
the United States would be swamped.
Now comes the reason. The sale
was made in France because, as it is
alleged, the French government in
sisted on imposing an import duty on
! the goods unless they were sold there.
This means that the French govern
ment was attempting to collect money
on the goods which were sent there
to help check the advance of the Ger
man hosts and that they were wailing
! for help as a means to enrich them
selves. Now, that would be pretty
story If one could believe that there
was a grain of truth in the report.
Let us assume that 1t is Incredible
that the French made any such de-
mands Then, the parties making the
charge have an object in doing so. And
they have too. Their object is to di-
vert the public attention from the big
deal which they have engineered in
France to stife the eternal investiga-
ton which will turn up If they cam
not forestall it. The whole deal was
crooked and the enormous quantities
of material which they are trying to
unload here are so tremendous in bulk
and variety that their very size must
provoke comment.
The accusation that the French gov
eminent has been Matchmaking the u.
S. by trying to impose what would
virtually be an export duty on the
goods shipped to France in wartime,
is so gross and absurd that it must
rebound to heap ignominy and con-
tempt on the authors of the canard.
1t is too great a SANDER to be passed
by quietly.
If the United States were the gentle
dupes of all the powers to whose aid
they went, it is time, indeed, that we
knew it. But If there were any such
demand by the French at the time
of the SALE why did the buyers and
sellers not advise the government of
the United States of it? Why should
the matter have remained a secret UNI
til it should be opportune for the buy
ers to exploit it? 1t all smacks so
much of self-interest that the purpose
of the charge is obvious. That they
can get away with such a contempti-
BILE game does not seem possible.
Doubtless the buyers of the war ma
terial do not want too much light on
their modus operandi. 1t takes a
wide stretch of imagination to figure
a seventy-five per cent depreciation
in the bulk of war material sent over
probation or that Uncle Sam got a
to France and the conclusion is obvi-
Gus that either there was no such de-
pretty raw deal.
That France was trying to gouge
money of the shot and shell sent to-
France to stay the German advance.
or that such a thought ever entered
their minds, is, beyond, per-adventure
false. Nor is it admissible that any
country asking for aid and materials
from a friendly power when its very
existence was at stake could in any
way interfere with the return of I'M
used goods to the country which had
furnished them, unhampered and I'M
taxed. 1t will be interesting to watch
future developments and learn the
identity of the men who were promi-
nent In the sale and the bidding. They
did not participate in the sale of two
billions worth OF goods for their own
health. Nor did they seem inclined
to stop at anything to collect their
toll.
We had plenty Of mock patriots
during the war who collected revenue
from the anguish of suffering hui
mainly and we do not care TO have
them hold over. There was enough
scandal, and to spare. while the end
of the war was so recent. that our
blood has not yet cooled: Now that
the mind Of the country is centered
on the problems Of reconstruction and
on the establishment of tranquil
social existence, we have no time for
games of battledore and shuttlecock
with band of post bellum profiteers.
Yet. they should be made to pay for
that SANDER or prove it. The charge
itself begets a feeling OF uneasiness
that makes one wonder If all the sac
rifices Of the war were fruitless.
Doubtless when the report reaches the
ears Of the French government there
VIII be a prompt denial and then the
profiteers may have to think up bet
Ter alibl.--Miami Herald.