The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-12-15


The subject of inter-ailied war
debts. one of the most important po-
ntico-oconomlc which concerns tho
United states, Is but little understood
by a vast majority Of tho people.
am constrained to believe that short
resume OF tho treatment OF this prob
lem by SIR. Caret Garrett In tho Fat
urday Evening Post of November Is.
1881. will he OF compelling interest.
Mr.. CARROTS very able and logical
article should be read and digoated
by ali.
Tho United State, has been tber-
ally. aud II yet being. iampooned.
cartooned and called shyiock moro
iniauitou. than shakaapearo's money
lender Of the middle aKch The
propaganda for tho cancellation Of
war debts IL stu insis,cnt and IN Its
present altitude essentially misleading.
AIR. CARROTS array OF public docu-
ments. diplomatic correspondence.
facts and figures disclose tho naked
truth underlying all this morbid
TRADE against our country.
Europe before tho world war was
creditor 20 the whole world. drawing
annually billions OF interest. inciud-
ing 1T icas, $500. 900. 600 annually
from the United States. Tho huge
sums advanced tho allies during the
war shifted tho account 10 tho debit
side OF the international ledger ana.
a. Mr.. Garrett asserts. Developed n
kind Of debtors hysteria-- For four
years Great Britain has been moving
ccaselensiy by indirectlon 90 bxng
about a general cancellation Of Inter
national debts. meanwhile failing 20
enter into any arrangement that
looked 20 tho payment Of her debt 20
this country he says
The united States government. BE-
coming impatient under this incon-
elusive attitude. congress called for
action. During this period tho dis
tinxuished acting minister Of foreign
affairs Lord .naifoar. adroisiy adj
dressed . note 10 Great Britain's
European allies. all debtors Of the
United states. that Great Britain
thought OF performing an art OF ~un-
parallel Ecnerosisy.~ In substance.
10 forgive. cancel. ana utterly wipe
out the war debts 81 the allies and
foregoing Bri,ain's share IN German
Indemnity. amounting 10 the colossal
sum % s.seo. cco. goo pounds.
Truly Il seemed divine in It's un.
parnileisd generosity. and lts effect
upon public opinion Ia Europe. " this
United states refused 20 concur,
would - 10 reisgats u 10 the obnos-
ious rot. Of International shyioek. II
Iis this feature that AFR. Garrett han
diss with consurnma,e skill and strips
ths question 81 isa csmou5zEv % un-
parailoisd generosity and lays bare
the ndruii diplomacy hidden In the
note Of tho British cart
The ground urged for the huge
forgiveness all around II. that this
war VAS q common enterprise In Dr.
frn.s % civilization: wherefore. no
money account should have been
kept at all. and no defender should
charge another for things con-
trfbufsf."
At this time shs war ders cs the
allies 20 the United states now stands
between Sio.soo.ooo.o 900 and sii.ooo.-
600 900. In the first place. when
Great Britain says she II willing 90
forgive war dctss % say eiT.ooo. oo0.-
600. while tho United States II un-
willing 10 forgive TO Britain n QUAR-
ter Of that sum. say tt.soo.ooo. ooo.
the arithmetic II misleading.
| In that sum oe si7,oco. 900. 600 war
debts duo Great Britain which she
would forgive IL included 1880. ooo.-
1000 Of German Indemnity. which now
rs admitted 70 b. uncoiisc.ibis
America has no claim agninst tho In
dernnisy 60 Be enforced or forgiven.
and does not participate In such
claims Of German reparationL
FORGIVENESS
FIGURES
We could not forgive England .
dsbt unless We also forgive all 9TH
ers. Dednctins the German indom-
nifty Of $500. ooo.e 200 from tho si7.-
00o. 900 900. Great Britain would fer
give 1910. 200. 900 owing TO her. and
at the same time be forgiven tt.3so.-
100000 owing BY her 10 tho United
States This leaves tho figures a.
below:
Great Britain forgfves.3 s.7So.ooo. 900
Great Britain Ii for
given ............... t.zso.ooo. 900
Net British sacraf1ce. g $500, ooo. 900
The United States
would forgive and
and sacrifice .......sto.soo. 900. 900
a -. HFf A. "A
morc than Great Britain.
when hostilities ceased France,
Great Britain. Italy and belgium.