Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-02-08
PAY DEBT, PRESS WARNS.
Britain Cannot Think of Asking
q. 8. to Remit, Papers Saw

LONDON, February S.-Newspapers
OF this city give great prominence TO
discussions of the address of Austen
Chamberlain. chancellor of the ex-
chequer. at Birmingham on Friday.
In the course Of which he declares
the United States had intimated pro-
posals for the remission of the allied
debt would not be favorably received
in America. The Morning Post in
commenting on the address said to-
day:
This country. an essential element
OF whose national policy is main
tenance of most cordial relations with
them to become imperiled by indefi-
mite postponement of the repayment
Of it's debt to the United States. The
nation would regard any suggestion
relative to remission of this debt as
derogatory to national honor"
Referring to recent suggestions re-
garding the transfer of British
colony to the United States, the news
paper said: THAT expedient is out of
the question. The British people would
never countenance it and the sooner
the government takes the requisite
steps to fund the American debt the
better. Regarding the debts owed to
Great Britain. their cancellation
would confer the greatest possible
benefit upon Europe and would prove
the highest possible service to civ
ilization.'
Must Wipe Out Old Scores.
The Daily Mail, commenting on
Chancellor Chamberlain's utterances
says that more than one overture
in this respect has been made. 1t
declares that in 1919 John M. KEYNES,
while representing the treasury on
the. economic council, is understood
to ha.e discussed the matter freely
with American representatives.
THE existence of the immense war
debts" the Daily Mail continues
means that at any moment some-
where in Europe it may pay the gov
ernment OF day to make repudia-
tion plank in its platform. There
is. Of course. no such danger in Eng
land, but sooner or later the allies
must meet and wipe off old scores"
In its editorial on the subject the
London Times asserts that we'll in
formed quarters here have long un-
derstood that during the war the
British government suggested to the
United States that it should substi-
tute itself for Great Britain as di-
rect creditor of France and Itaiy
with respect to sums Great Britain
borrowed from America and lent to
the Two dlllcS, UQl LudC the SuRgeS-
tion was rejected.
Recalls Vanderlip Testimony.
The newspaper recalls that Frank
A. Vanderlip. before the foreign rela-
tions committee of the Senate, in
June. 1919. proposed remission of the
loans to France and England, but
neither then nor since. says the Times.
was the idea favorably received.
I'VE shall not go back on our
word" it continues. 1--WE are ma
tion of shopkeepers, and commercial
interest as well as commercial honor
forbids ls to discredit our, papers
Payments of both the capital and in
terest ought to have been concluded
long ago"
Regarding the allies debts to Great
Britain, the Times declares there ga IN
be no talk Of remitting any part Of
them until full arrangements are
made for the repayment of Great
Britain's own debt to America.
1--WE shall pay fully and Promptly"
It says. ION whatever reasonabie
terms are proposed to u.s."