Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-02-12
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY IL. 1921.
Oar Debtors Must Pay,

7 + Great Britain cannot pay its war debt
l to tho United States in money. then let
ii pay in kind. The suggestion has been
made by Congressman Fish. of New York.
and while there is little possibility of its
acceptance by Great Britain. ii should have
its consideration before il puts up poor
mouth and seeks To have this country make
il Il present; oi billions OF dollars loaned
to it for the winning Of the war against
Germany Great Britain, perhaps harassed
now by its wartime obligations, is not
poor nation. 1t has ample resources if not
Ieady cash ii il is not prepared TO pay in
money what il owes the United States and
is not satisfied with the generous terms this
country is willing 10 oiier. then let ii make
counter proposition 10 transfsr certain Of
Its colonial territory to the Stars and Stripes.
Strategically and tcrritorially the West In
dies. for instance, might prove acceptable
10 the United States. as suggested by Mr.
Fish. The suggestion would raise a storm
OF protest in Great Britain but debtors can
not always be chooscrs. and its plea for can
collation. Will receive little sympathy IN This
country so long as ii has resources with
which TO pay, yet persists in holding on to
all Of them
Il is surprising tina, any European gov
eminent, as revealed by J. Austen Chamber
lam. British Chancellor OF the ExchcQuer,
should have sponsored the cancellation plea
u: so far as America is concerned Had that
government understood the temper OF the
American people i. woA,d have known that
they would not consent TO the cancellation
OF the Slo.000 ooo.0 debt which European
nations owe the United States That debt
may be refunded. the demand notes which
We're given when the money was borrowed
may he changed to long term obligations.
rat, ~ ,t,,a .;i,,o
under the aw may be fixed. but the deb;
Will not be marked from the records as
paid until it is paid
Great britain. holding an enormous
amount OF Russian, Rumanian, Serbian and
other unco!!cctahlc obligations NAV gcncr-
ouS!y propose the cancellation OF all inter.
national war Indebtedness. advertising the
TACT that in SO doing il will give up more
than IL gains, but it will deceive no one
WHO has knowledge OF the facts On paper.
il might as Mr. Chamberlain has declared
lose by such deal bu, tho truth is that
the British hold obligations from which
they do not nope TO realize a dollar. and
hoid them In enormous amounts
II these bad debts were eliminated
from 'ho calculation. it would he found tha,
Great Britain would profit Handsomely nv
the wholesale cancellation OF wartime OBJ
legations i might have reasonable cxpcc-
.a'ion oi beng paid in fun hy France and
l'aiy and even by Belgium, bat the total of
its colectahie loans would scarcely over
balance the total of It's indebtedness 10
the United States
The American government ana The Amer
'can people have been informed that tn.
entente VIII exact SIS 900. 600 600 i, IN
IDENTITIES and separations from Gcrmarv
during the next lorty-two years Vohod,.
has heard of Great Britain and France TO-
nouncing their claim to this money. IN =
spirit of ovc' 2owcring generosity 40, a hi,
OF 1T. They Viii collect The last dolls- 4
II IS possible 10 do so. and out RI il tbav
may repay TO the American people ,,n
money they borrowed here Nor .rould
they be allowed TO forget that Antcrico g,yo
more than money 10 win the va |, gaze
its flesh and blood as did Franco and Grea,
Britain and Italy AID Belgium