Evening star., 1922-02-23
GERMAN COLONIES
F0RALL|ES' DEBT
Senator France Urges Sub
stitute for Bonus to Former
Service Men. .

A proposal that the allied nations
should liquidate their war debts to
the United States by transferring the
former German colonies and cables now
held by them to the ownership Of the
United States was made in the Senate
yesterday by Senator France Of Mary
land, republican.
Senator France said that there was
no prospect of the European nations
being able to liquidate their debts to
the United States under conditions
as they exist in the world today. He
urged that his plan would relieve the
situation to a very great extent
"These colonies" said Senator
France, constitute vast empire
Of natural wealth. Of boundless op-
portunity, out of which could be
paid the bonus which is being urged
for the recognition of the services
Of our heroes in war. Here In these
territories are gold, copper, tin, cof-
fee. rubber, diamonds. petroleum ana
priceless other resources, as well as
extensive territories for homestead
American commerce. The cables
would provide direct and unmolested
communication for the government and
American merchants. for CONNER
cial and news agencies, to reach the
most distant portions of the world In
a prompt and profitable manner.
UNLESS some way can be found to
liquidate Europe's debt to us, so Eu-
rope can buy from US, our business
cannot revive. the exchange situation
cannot be cured, the budgets OF Eu-
ropean countries cannot be brought to
balance, and the shortage OF food. raw
products, and manufactured goods In
Europe will cause acute distress. dis
turbances, and a further disintegra-
ton of the social and economic struc-
ture of the world.
Food supply Threatened.
Few seem to realize that a world
wide shortage of food is imminent II
we do not restore the vigorous flow
Of commodities in the arteries Of in
ternational commerce.
Millions in Russia are famishing.
millions of Germans are suffering slow
starvation. and there is undernourish-
ment or starvation in other lands. Forty
millions of people who live in the. in
dustrial countries must depend for food
on exports from Russia and the United
States. The strike in Germany, the re-
suit Of hunger, must grow to serious
disturbances unless Germany can i'm
1T would be perlous for us now to
undertake to pay three to five billions
of dollars as a cash bonus to our SOL
dierS until this dangerous disease which
Is preventing the production and the In
ternational circulation Of commodities
and world reconstruction is cured.
FavOrs international Conference.
II would have the President call an
international conference and propose
this plan to liquidate the debts. add
to our resources, increase the total
income Of the world. and extend. un-
der the leadership Of America. the
great missionary nation. the bound
aries of civilization. The German
indemnity should be hxed at about
fifteen billions of dollars and on this
Germany must be given credit for
three to five billion dollars for the
former German cables and colonies
transferred by Germany to the allied
powers. and these powers should then
transfer these cables and colonies to
the United States in payment of their
debts. and then there should be
adopted great international plan
under which the nations would CO.
operate for the better organization,
education, evangelization, and civili-
zation Of the peoples of the yet dark
continent of Africa.
THE former German colonies Of
Africa are in area one-third of the
United States. Great wealth is there.
Our soldiers could find great oppor-
tunities there.
with the liquidation Of the debts
in this manner prosperity would re-
turn, and the bonus and other prob.
lens could be solved in such a way
as to advance the interest Of all
Americans"