The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-01-12
BY DAVID LAWRENCE,
Especial Dispatch to The Reformer,)
Copyright 1922. -

Especial Dispatch to The Re1ofmef,)
Copyright 1922. ~
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12-President
Harding will decline to give his approval
TO any soldier bonus proposal which docs
not provide sure means of raising the
money! And at>the moment the President
gives the impression that il -weuld IL a
mistake to assume that enough money will
be forthcoming on the allied war debt to-
pay the bonus.
The Presidents attitude toward the
bonus as revealed at the White House is
one of continued belief in soldier compen-
sation but of reluctance to associate the
foreign debt question with it. The truth
of the matter is that Mr. Harding turned
the tables on those who asked for his APP
prevail to a soldier bonus bill contingent
upon the allied war debt payments. The
President inquired how il was possible
even to talk about getting money from the
allies when congress Is delaying the pas
sage Of the bill which authorizes a com
mission of five to negotiate with foreign
governments on the payment of principal
and interest. In other words. If congress
will hurry up and pass the funding bill
then some clear idea may be obtained as
to whether and revenues may be expected
from the allies.
Debt Question Neglected.
Up To this time. not a single thing has
been done toward fixing a time for the pay
ment of either interest or principal. PTi-
waite business would not allow an immense
debt To run along without even a promiS-
sorry note fixing the dates of payment.
Both the President and the secretary of
the treasury have pleaded with congress
to, pass the bill. The house has acted IA
vorably. but the senate has failed to put
the measure through. The agitation for
a soldier bonus may have the effect of
forcing action on the funding bill though
Mr.. Harding himself is careful TO refrain
from promising approval of the bonus bill
even If he has the power to fnud the debt.
The funding bill only authorizes nego-
tiations. 1t doesn't insure payment.
Then it will become necessary for the
American commission to discuss with the
allies the assets available Indeed. Mr.
Harding Is eager to have this authority to
negotiate bSfOre the big economic confer
ence takes place at Genoa in March For
the time being he is Withholding accep-
lance of the invitation TO that conference
BECAUSE he wants to show the business
men of the United States and the agFicul-
turists and all others who look forNs ard
hopefully to the effects on American bust
ness of the Genoa conference that the
United States Is powerleSs to enter the
conference unless the funding bill is
passed. /
No Idea of Cancelling Debt
The President let it be known that ne
believes eventually a satisfactory funding
of the foreign debt viii be possible He
never refers to cancellation He never
suggests any disc0unting by America of
this indebtedness. He does feel. how /
ever, that it would be hazardous To place
any reliance on the immediate flow of
any substantial revenue from the allies to |
the United States, sufficient at any rate
to pay soldier bonus the cost of which !
has been variOusly estimated at upwards (
of a billion dollars The United States
has heSitated to call for interest payments
in gold because of certain ill-effects which .
draining of Europes gold would have
on international exchange The fear is
that sudden import Of gold would knock