The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-12-27
Doesn't Believe Great Britain Party to
Plan

Doesn't Believe Great Britain Party Il
Plan.
Editor, Barre Times AS reader Of
| The Times since 1t first saw the light
Of day, I could not resist the tempta
tion to let you know that the British
fair play and justice still lingering In
through that thick red blood OF our an
cestors would all but boil at reading
your editorial on the cancellation OF
! the war national debts In your issue OF
/ the 18th inst.
Let me quote just paragraph Of
your article:
"The maneuvering being done through
British agencies to get the United
States to abandon its claim against
France for debt growing out Of the
war and perhaps claims against Great
Britain herself. Is 80 persistent as to
command attention, etc.
Now Great Britain has never asked
the u. s. A. to cancel 81 of what she
owes them. On the contrary her states
men never lose an opportunity Of EN-
phasizing the fact that she intends to
pay every cent. Only recently huge
sum was freighted across To apply on
account, but she has asked Uncle Sam
to cancel at least some of Frances
debt. She, herself, offering to cancel
the war debt that France owes her. In
this way, they will be able to let Ger
many alone and help her onto her feet.
Great Britain knowing full well that
this must be done before any stabil-
ity comes to Europe Tor even America
for that matterl.
! consider this request very reason
able since the u. S. A. CAME into the
war even at the eleventh hour, she at
last acknowledging her responsibility,
became part and parcel Of the game
and the final dividing OF the cost pro
rata would seem the reasonable
way of paying the total cost Of win
ming the fight and the usual sporting
way Of handling such a settlement;
the Hon. james NJ. Beck speaking in
Montreal In 1915, before an audience
that packed the largest Methodist
church in America, stated that he was
advocating the total cancellation by
the United States las debit Of all
moneys sent to Great Britain to help
her win the war. Let me quote some
Of his words; II have not heard one
single objection OF note from my coun-
try to this request" and he further
states; sThey are paying the war with
blood, we must pay II with money"
You further state the u. 8. "A. did |
come to the assistance of the allies, |
not only with billions Of money in &C.
tuai loans, but with many more bill |
lions spent by the Washington govern
ment, etc. Now, the first part of this
statement can be very easily miscon-
strued, Instead Of its being a sacri- /
ice, ii was one of the greatest eco
nomic bonanzas, ever laid at the door /
IF people. Practically all this vast
amount came back to the u. S. A. in
of commodities mostly sold
II from four to six times their value,
until In this way all the gold Of Eu-
-opc was stored in the United States
,offers.
You say that the United States came
nto the war 10 save the allies from
Germany, etc. Theodore Roosevelt stat
d, previous TO the 1910 election, in
Sew York Cityi at is United States
itizens, including women and children,
leeping at the bottom Of the ocean,
through German treachery, that is call 4
ng us to war
You say that United States sacri.
iced tens OF thousands OF lives, etc.
his part of your well-thought Of argu-
nent Is also weak. II is true that the
J. S, lost 10000 men while the allies
Dst ten million.
Mr.. Editor, do not be surprised. that
Britisher takes exception to such an
rticle as yours, especially in face Of
he fact that be sees John Bull, almost
ingle handed, trying to put the world
n its feet, including his late enemies.
Vhen Uncle Sam went over. helps with
knock blow, comes home leaving
hem all to starve, even though he
imself is suffering as result Of such
.arvation.
Thanking you in advance for giving
PACE for this article even though crit
izing The Times editorial {
A. L. Smith.
Aso~4~.nt ~. 90 fooo If