New-York tribune., 1922-08-04
l)isarrnl or Paw
Is Borah's $
W ord to Europe
Senator Insists Nothing Is
10 Be Gained by Cancel
ing Obligations if War
Programs Are Continued
Treaties Still Unratifed
British Note TO Allies
Not To BE Answered.;
No Change i'm Policy

From The Tributes Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Aug. 3.-Cancella-
tion of the Allied debt or any part Of
1t could only be considered by the peo-
pie of the United States if it is accom-
panied by a definite and specific plan
supported by guarantees for land and
sea disarmament in Europe, Senator
Borah, Of Idaho, declared in state
ment on debt cancellation to-day.
There is nothing to be gained by
our cancelling this debt, or any part
of it," said Senator Borah, "if the
gigantic military and armament pro-
grams in Europe are to continue"
He called attention to the fact Eu-
rope had not ratified the treaties grow
ing out of the Washington conference.
that "the spirit of the movement has
been crushed" and that efforts are be-
ing made in this country to revive the
war spirit.
At the Treasury Department it was
said officially that the note of Great
Britain to her debtor nations with re-
spect to cancellation OF the inter-Al-
lied debt would cause no change in the
pohcy OF TINS government as to it's for
eign debts. The American debt com
mission, Secretary Mellon holds. is re-
qulred to go ahead with its negotia-
tions of Great Britain to cancel the
entire inter-Allied indebtedness. Mr..
Mellon is understood to take the view
that lnasmuch as the note was not ad-
dressed to this nation, no official cog
nlzance should be taken of it. In SEN
ate circles it was again pointed out
that the law creating the funding COM
mission forbids it to cancel any of the
debts.
Time to Cancel Not Now
Assuming, for the purpose of this
statement, that there will come a time
when the United States will consider
the proposition of canceling q part or
all of the foreign debt" said Senator
Borah, "1 take it that that time will
never come during the program as is
now suggested. There is one thing in
all this discussion from abroad rela-
tive to canceling the foreign debt
which is never mentioned. 1t is
wholly ignored in the letter by the
British government, addressed to
France, but intended for the United
States, and that is the subject of dis
armament
"The people of the United States
could never be greatly interested in
any proposition for the cancellation Of
any part Of the debt to the United
States unless the proposition is ac-
companted by a definite and specific
plan supported by certain guarantees
for practical disarmament, both by
land and by sea. There is nothing to
be gained by our canceling this debt
or any part of it. if the gigantic Mill
tary and armament programs in Europe
practical effect to our aiding and
abetting the building up of these great
military and armament establishments,
and thereby abettiLg war.
"If cancellation is to be considered
at all, it should be considered in the
interests Of humanity, of economic
sanity, and not to enable these coun-
tries to build up and maintain these
military establishments, these great
armies, which are now burdening and
torturing and threatening Europe and
which will lead inevitably to greater
suffering, more misery and more war.
Tell of War Machines
"Within the last week the Premier
of England has declared: Keep your
eye on what is happening. They the.
nations of Europel are constructing
more terrible machines than even the
late war ever saw What for? Not
are not even to disperse armies; they
tContinusd on page four)