Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-01-06
FRIDAY EVENING. JANUARY s. 1922.
AMERICAS OBLIGATION.

1t is a mistake to emphasize, as some are do
ing, Americas obligation. to the world in relation
to the cancellation of war indebtedness. 1t is Il
fact that the United States entered the war later
than her neighbors, that she lost fewer men in the
struggle than her neighbors did, that she suffered
less in a financial way than most of them and that
the after results of the war have borne more light
ly on her people than on those of her great asso-
ciates. All Of these things arc matters Of common
understanding, and because they arc true it is ap-
%propriatc that in estimating Our contributions to
the common cause our achievements be stated with
becoming moderation.
But there is no basis whatever for the theory
that our shortcomings or our good fortune were
such that it is Our duty to offset them now by do
nations of cash. That theory is both unpalatable
and false. Our geographical position, our doracs-
tic situation, and many other elements over which
we had no control combined to keep us for a long
time out of a war into which others were forced by
their peculiar environment. very much against their
will. When we did enter we got in with both feet,
and there was no lack of enthusiasm in our be-
havior. If we spent less money on the war than
did some Of our neighbors it was not from any lack
of willingness to spend. We spent all that could be
spent where expenditure would count in favor OF
the cause which we had espouscd. We sent men
across the seas as last as they could be distributed
on the other side. Often we landed them faster
than they could be handled. In the matter of sup
plies, prices did not bother US. The limit Of our
shipment of war supplies abroad was not the money
cost of them, but the number of ships that could be
provided to carry them. For our acquittal Of our
selves in the war we have no excuses or apologies
to offer, nor arc any demanded by our. associates.
SO far as our attitude toward. war indebtedness
is concerned, we may look on the war itself as a
closed chapter. and may take up the subject of in
dcbtedness as new business, giving due weight, OF
course. to the cause in which that indebtedness was
incurred. The situation now is that we arc parties
to a great international system of war finance in
which several small nations owe large sums which
they cannot pay, i'll which some other nations can
pay in part. and in which one nation, and probably
no others, can pay in full. This situation operates
as a hindrancc to the restoration of normal business
conditions throughout the world, and on tho re-
storatlon of those conditions everywhere depends,
i'll very large measure, the normal development Of
our own industrial life.
I'd Everyone realizes that there must be a severe
scaling down OF war. claims. Whether or not there
is to be a general cancellation is not now known BY
anyone. 1t will take time to determine But
whatever action the United States is called Oh to
take, now or later. that action will be based on an
intelligent understanding Of American and world
wide interests, together with a generous apprccia-
ion ct the necessities ef some of our less fortunate
'eighbors. and not on any fine-spun theory that be-
cause OF certain imaginary dclinquencies VIC owe
several billion dollars to the rest OF the world.