The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-08-30
BRYAN DEFINES
FOREIGN DEBTS
AS FIRST ISSUE
Gravity of Affairs in Europe
May Lead Cox to Revive
League-Fear.
PRICE OF PEACE SMALL
Securities That Mean Nothing
Could Be Converted to
Lasting Good.
By ROBERT j. BENDER
NRArS Stnf Cnrreannndent

CntIeu SNS OEuH Correspondent
Copyright, 1922 by United News.)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 30.-With
JGmes NJ. Cox, titular leader of the
Democratic party, setting sail for
home from Europe and pressing hard
for American cooperation in soothing
Europe's ills, William Jennings Bryan
has dropped into Washington with
thumb down on the League Of Ma
tions as a campaign issue, but with a
program of his own for aiding the
Old World.
THE crisis in Europe is so grave"
said Bryan in an interview with the
writer, land our responsibility so
great that I think the President and
Congress should Immediately join in
sending a commission to Europe, au-
thorized to say this:
Whenever the European nations
can come together on terms 5atisfac-
torily to themselves so that the world
will be Cancelled"
The feeling-and fear-among some
Democratic leaders, that Cox would
return to the United States m~ilIt9ntly
bent upon injecting the league into
the fall elections. prompted question
ing of the Commoner on this subject.
League Defunct
1.-THE league is impossible as an is
SUE" Bryan replied. because the
party is divided. The moment we
talk about the league. the two fac
lions of the party appear. Neither
side is strong enough to win alone
and they canno agree on any state
ment on the league issue.
ITO effect cancellation of the debt.
however, conditioned upon establish
ment of machinery hat would insure
the carrying out OF disarmament,
would carry out the spirit Of the
league without arousing disputes as
to details"
THE foreign debt" Bryan de-
clared, lis worthless. 1t will never
be collected. And yet, while we in
sist upon It we may prevent peace in
Europe and actually become respon-
sible for another war. We might be
able TO trade a worthless debt for a
priceless peace. At least it's worth
trying. We are not in a position to
do much toward peace as long as our
demand for repayment creates Euro
pean conditions that prevent peace"
Cox FavOrs Counsel
Cox advocates a trip by Secretary
Hoover to Europe to advise the old
world on how TO get on It's feet.
Bryan suggests hat America should
hold herself IN readiness to act as an
advisor whenever Europe desires our
advise. The big thing" he says. is
that I'VE should always. reserve TO our
selves any part that we might take
and avoid any action involving a NOR.
al obligation. which, to be effective,
would have to be binding.
But while I do not regard the sur
render Of our independence of action
as either likely or WISE" Bryan
added. II think we owe it to the
world to use I'll moral influence to
bring world peace" To this end he
believes the trade OF debts for dis
armament affords the most practical
vehicle.
During his recent contact with chau-
tauqua crowds. Bryan said he found
"a great reaction against the Repub-
can party especially among IdlIn-
ers and laborers. Most certainly" he
added, the Democrats are going to
make vast gains in Congress this fall"
Visits Senator Walsh
Domestic issues will predominant
this years elections, Bryan believes.
and foremost among these will be the
situation created as a result OF the
mine and rail strikes.
while I am hoping that the strikes
will be settled before the campaign
really opens, anything hat affects the
public so violently cannot but become
IN ISSUE he said. especially such i'm
portant things as the coal and rail
strikes"
Bryan, while in Washington, called
on Senator Walsh, Massachusetts, adj
vocating the latter's bill to take over
emergency control Of the mines. The
question threatens to be either tenn
porary Federal operation or use Of the
United States Army in a coercive man
ner, Bryan holds, and 1 think the
people would prefer the former of the
two alternatives"