The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-03
Great Britain's Note to Her
Debtors Leaves View Same.
No Hitch Will Appear in Talk
Over Debt Owed Z. S.
BRITAIN SAYS SHE'LL PAY
Lloyd George Reiterates That
1t Doesn't Affect q. S.
It's Merely Other Nations Who
Would Cancel, He Says.

Washington. Aug. 3.-Great Brit
aims note to her debtor nations sug
gesting cancellation of the whole
inter-allied indebtedness<will cause no
change in the policy of the United
States toward its foreign debts, it was
stated officially today at the treasury.
Secretary Mellon was represented as
taking the position that the American
debt commission must continue nego-
tiations for funding the obligations
owed this country without regard to
the disposition evidenced by Great
Britain to wipe out international war
time Indebtedness.
Doesn't Affect Us?
Moreover, Mr.. Mellon was under
stood to feel that inasmuch as Great
Britain in correspondence with the
treasury has acknowledged England s
war debt to the United States and in
dicated a willingness to hquidate with
interest and had announced the send
ing of a financial mission in September
to discuss arrangements there should
be no hitch in proceedings.
According 10 the treasury view Brit
ish statesmen in preliminary have re-
peatedly described the American debt
as an obligation to be met.
We Won't Cancel.
AS the note was not addressed TO
the United States, Mr.. Mellon was said
to hold the view that no official cog
nizance of its transmission would be
taken by this country.
On the abstract question of cancel
lation, however, Mr.. Mellon was de-
clared to have very definite views as
to sthe fundersirability such proceed
ings from the standpoint of the United
States.
Don't Know Exact Purpose.
The exact purpose of the British
government in sending its note, it was
said at the treasury, may not yet be
apparent, altho suggestions were made
that there may have been a desire to
bring the question of cancellation to
the front before the meeting of French
and British premiers in London, or to
make plain an attitude by the British
government that if payments must be
made by England payments must be
demanded in turn.
England's willingness to lessen her
share of German reparations treasury
officials indicated, might be taken as
revealing a desire to strengthen the
British world trade position thru en-
hA1cing German commercial oppor-
tunitieS,
A lessening of German reparation
payments to France was regarded at
the treasury as somewhat in the light
of a foregone conclusion, officials ex-
pressing the opinion that German rep
arations at present were obviously
more than the traffic would bear
(By the Associated Press)
London. Aug. 3.-Prime Minister
Lloyd George after having devoted
considerable attention to the Ameri-
can criticisms of the Earl of Balfour's g
note on the war debts question is un-
derstood to have concluded that there
has been a serious misunderstanding
of its purport.
America Not Mentioned.
1t is stated that the impression
which apparently is widespread in
America that the British government
thru this note indicated a desire that
America should cancel the British debt
is entirely wrong and Mr.. Lloyd
George is expected to make his posi-
ton clear in his speech in the house
of commons this afternoon.
That Great Britain has no intention
of suggesting any alteration of her
financial obligations to the United
States was re-emphasized in the house
today by Sir Robert Horne, chancellor
of the exchequer, in reviewing the
British position on German repara-
tiOnS.