The Washington herald., 1922-06-18
ALLIES APATHY
TOWARD DEBTS
DISQUIETS U. S.
Commission
Vainly Awaits Arrival
Of Foreign Agents.
IMPATIENCE GROWS
Genoa Conference One Reason
For Delay, and Hague
May Be Another.


the allied governments to begin
debt refunding negotiations with
the United States is causing ON
Gals of this government uneasiness
although they are keeping diplo-
matte silence on the subject.
Although two of the debtor gov
ernments have submitted state
ments of their financial condition
in the light of their obligations to
the United States. not one has sent
a commission to Washington to
confer with the American commits
sion created to undertake the re-
funding of the $1,000, 100000 war
loans.
More than two months have pass
ed since the Invitations sent by
Secretary of State Hughes. These
were acknowledged and each of the
foreign governments sent assur-
ances that commissions soon would
be sent to Washington to under
take the fiscal task so much de-
sired by the United States, not only
for the benefit of this country,
but also for the effect a definite
arrangement regarding this vast
debt will have on stabilizing the
world financial situation.
Many Reasons for Delay.
Nothing more tangible than the
promises to send commissions has
yet come from Europe and the
members of the American COM
mission are waiting for the for
eign experts. In some quarters IL
Is said that they are not waiting
as patiently as their outward ap-
A succession of reasons has been
pearance would indicate.
assigned for the continued delay.
Word came from Europe when the
American commits sion was first or
ganized that the British would un-
dertake resunding negotiations by
the middle of April. Soon after
ward the explanation came that the
British financial experts were bus
lily engaged at the Genoa confer
ence and could not be sent to Amer
lea at that time. After the Genoa
conference had passed into history
this government believed that the
British and French negotiating del
eGations would lose no time In
coming to this country. The Genoa
parley has been over for some time,
but there still are no signs of the
refunding commissi oners. and there
are no indications as to wncn they
will arrive.
Hague Conference on Now.
about to begin. and it may run on
Iii 81 To-
some subject of Russian relations.
and officials here are wondering IL
the foreign governments have de-
termined to put off refundinG con-
siderations until this is concluded.
1t probably will continue for many
weeks as did the Genoa conference.
There have been some suggestions
that the European governments
may decide to handle the debt issue
through diplomatic channels. This.
it is well understood. will be I'M
satisfactory to the A merican COM
mission. which was created by Con-
Eress to deal with similar commits
sions from the debtor governments.
The American commission has long
been ready to function. Its reports
show that the foreign debt. which It
y
S11,456.3s3,O5e. including accrued in
terest. The British debt is the larg-
est. s4,6S5.S62. 900. The French debt
comes next. s3.77O. 100000. Italy's
amounts to 1881. $4,000. There are
seventeen other debtor nations on the
list, Liberia having the smallest OBJ
legation. s2S.s6s.
Another example Of American gov
ernmental patience is manifested in
the long wait for payment of the
$3.50, 900. 900 due from Europe for the
cost of maintaining the American
Army OF Occupation in Germany since
the armistice.
Realize Europe's Plight.
When this money is going to be paid
nobody knows. although official re-
assurances have come from Great
Britain. France and Belgium that the
claim is fair and will not be forgotten
when it comes to dividing the German
money received from time to time
as reparation payments.
While the American government
would be glad to be paid in full. the
State Department realizes that Euro
pean affairs are in muddle. Moth
ing will be done to cause embarrass-
ment
OF the full amount Of the American
claim. by far the greater portion was
for maintaining the army from the
time of the armistice, on November
IL. 1918. to May 1, 1911, when a bill
for $241, 900. 900 was submitted. From
that time forward the cost Of the
troops was slightly in excess, as an
average, of $1.000.000 a month al
though now, with only 1000 troops