The Washington times., 1922-07-30
BRITISH OFFER
MANY EXCUSES
IN DEBT DELAY
U. s. Officials Begin to Sus-
pect Maybe John Bull
Isn't Hurrying.
BY WINDER II. HARRIS,
Universal Service.

Repeated British protestations OF
good intentions regarding payment
Of principal and interest on her five.
billions dollar debt to the United
States Government are being taken
with a grain OF salt by the members
of the world war debt funding COM
mission.
Widely heralded announcement
have been made by British officials,
in the House Of Commons and else
where, that the debt will be paid
and interest installments will be re-
sumed promptly. but not q single
word of such assurance has reached
this Government officially.
The growing impression here is
that Great Britain Is playing the
ancient international game of
jockeying for position. The object
of the maneuvering appears to be to
insure for herself as liberal terms
as granted any Of the other debter
nations, notwithstanding her strong.
er financial position.
Play Game Of Delay.
This thought In the minds OF
members Of the funding commission
Is strengthened by Retrospective
sent out notices to the debtor powers
that II was ready to do business.
Great Britain has moved about
since that time with Kaleidoscope
rapidity. She was the first natl On TO
respond to the notice. saying u dele
CATION to negotiate arrange nents
for taking care Of the debt would be
dispatched at an early date.
All this occurred back in the spring.
Coincidently, British officials began
their series OF declarations-but not
in communications to this Govern
ment--that the debt was q solemn
obligation and would be 80 treated.
and that provision for interest pay
ments this year had been inserted IN
the budget.
Officials and members Of Congress
here took such a roseate view Of the
situation that there were frequent
open references to an expectation OF
a. British interest payment by July l
Some advocates of the soldier bonus
bill became so optimistic that they
sought to write into the measure Il
provision for payment Of adjusted
compensation out Of British interest
installments.
French Are Active.
Then came the first OF the back
ing and filling. Word came that the
British government could not send
over a debt commission because all
OF her financial experts were re-
ruired for the Genoa conference.
When that explanation no longer
was available. the experts were de.
manded in connection with the work
at The Hague meeting. Now The
Hague conference has dissolved and
London puts off the sending OF
delegation for two months, until the
middle Of September"
In the meantime Jean V. Par.
mentier, director of finance Of the
French Treasury, is here seeking
concessions for his government.
Although Great Britain originally
was the one nation looked upon as
able to pay interest and agree to
funding her demand notes into
twenty five-year obligations at AZ
per cent interest, the rate fixed in
the law creating the commission,
she doubtless sees that more liberal
terms may be granted some Of the
other debtor powers. and is anxious
that the terms allowed her be as
liberal as those granted any other
nation.
Burton to Investigate.
Should the French negotiations be
completed before the British case Is
closed, and the result should be q
request to Congress for greater
generosity in the case Of France -
which now appears probable-the
commission fully expects Great
Britain to balk at any other terms
to her.
Congressman Theodore Burton of
Ohio member OF the funding com.
mission, has become so strongly con-
vinced that nothing definite is to be
accomplished any time soon that he
has completed plans for an early trip
to Europe. His ostensible purpose 10
to deliver one of the principal ad'
dresses at the meeting OF the Inter.
Parliamentary Union in Vienna.
1t is known. however, that he Is
to make an unofficial survey OF con.
ditions in the debtor countries. The
results Of his investigation will be
submitted in an informal report to