New-York tribune., 1922-09-14

ject. the American people, as whole,
decided that the war was not theirs
until we entered it, and the interna-
tional community of interest and pur~
pose must be viewed as dating from
lsour entrance into the war. Then we
must consider what portion of our
advances was truly for common OBJ
jectives.
Record Shows Sums
"The records of the Allied Purchasing
Commission and the Treasury Depart
ment will show for what the various
sums Of money borrowed by England
or any other nation were spent.
Whereas it might be conyincingly con-
tended that the money spent for the
purchase of munitions because we had
not enough soldiers ready TO use
them and because England and the
other Allies were able to use them to
better advantage in the quicker win
ming of the war) could be called con-
tribution to common cause, yet the
same decision could not be arrived at
regarding certain other important ex-
penditures.
Surely money that was spent for
things that went into the making of.
shipping which became a permanent
part of the mercantile feet of Eng
land, or money that was used for the
purchase of such material as went for
commercial purposes, or to bolster eX-
change tln most instances this was to
facilitate purchases in other countries)
or to pay for loans or materials OBJ
tanned previously to our entering the
war Gf there were such) can by no
conceivable reason be considered
contribution to comnbn carse, and
therefore should not be ancelled
The same applies in instances where
food was bought for England's civilian
population, not for her soldiers, and
was paid for by that population. 1t
must be remembered that the English
government did not give, but sold, to
its people the food bought in this
country
"On the other hand, in practically
every instance where purchases were
made in England by US after we en-
tered the war, they were paid for in
cash and not by means of a loan by
England to America. Again America
paid England for ferrying our soldiers
to Europe.
Surely, the expenditures mentioned
above should be considered contribu-
tion by the English in a common cause,
and should be set off against any
amount by which England proposes
that her gross debt to US should be
reduced
"If this subject is treated on the
basis suggested in the Balfour note,
equity and justice would demand that
England, whose territory was not dew
astated, should relinguish her claim
against Germany for the benefit of the
devastated countries. Then we could
count as contribution to q common
cause that which was spent for muni-
tions and for fighting purposes in this
country by England. But England, be-
sides paying the balance due on the
loan, should repay us, as a contribu
tlon to the common cause, that which
we spent in her country for munitions
and for shipping.
Disclaims Criticism
| do not make these remarks in
spirit of narrow criticism. Nor am
unmindful OF the great sacrifices that
the English people made so nobly and
unstintingly in the World War But
do believe that those behind the Bal
| four note should give full consideration
to all of the facts involved in the
case, and not make it appear that the
| United States is ungenerous in her
! position. We, were ready and willing
to have gone to the bitter end despite
what the cost might have been to us.
| we made no bargain then for our con-
tinuance in the struggle. And we want
no one to set a value upon our con-
tribution.
"ln my opinion it is useless to con-
| slider the German reparations or the
| readlustment of the inter Allied debts
| by themselves; because they are but
! two symptoms of disease that lies
| deeper. These problems should be
treated as whole, so as to leave all
peoples in the various countries free
| to go back to work under conditions
| that Will cause them to look forward
with hope and not backward with hate"