The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-05-22
|NDEMNIT
IS KEY To
DEBTS
Belgian Red Cross Official Ex-
poets U. s. to Sit on Repara-
tons Commission.
BY WILLIAM K. HUTCHINSON,
international News Service.

BY WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON,
Interna tiOnal News Service.
All Europe will make overtures
within five years for repayment
of American war loans, DR.. Rene
Sand, of Belgium, secretary-gen-
eral of the International Red
Cross, predicted here today.
AS a result Of improved finar-
cial conditions by 1928, DIR. Sand
declared, France and Belgium will
follow the lead of Great Britain
In negotiating for repayment of
their share Of the $11, 600, O0O, 900
allied war debt. Other European
nations will then swing into line.
Hinges On Reparations.
Early settlement OF the German
separations problem, he added. win
hasten the repayment by aiding in
the restoration of sound economic
conditions throughout Europe. he
declared the reparations would be
settled eventually by an interra-
tional commission, on which the
United States will have member
ship because of her war loans.
There has been a recovery OF
European economics In the last
year" DIR. Sand said. A year aEo
the people were desperate; now
they have gained confidence. No
country save England can repay
her debt to America for some time,
but within five years, France and
Belgium will lead the way In en-
tering refunding agreements. Actual
payments may be delayed. but q
start will have been made
Frances greatest economic prob
lem at the present is to raise
$4,000, 100000 to rebuild devastated
areas, DR.. Sand said, while Bel
GUM must raise $500, 100000 for
the same purpose. Other allied
nations are handicapped by loss Of
foreign trade due to their own high
exchange rates. With the German
separations settled, these Difficult.
ties will be removed, he added.
New Offer Awaited.
"The next PREPARATION offer from
Germany will be considered serious
ly by the allies" DIR. Sand continu-
ed. England and Belgium have
signified this attitude and IL France
refuses to consider 1t, she win be
isolated. And an isolated nation
cannot long exist.
u Ultimately, an international COM
mission will be created to determine
how much and when Germany can
pay her reparations. believe the
United States will be represented on
this commission. The allies want
her to participate, and IL she does,
Germany would be more willing to
accept the commissions verdict. 1t
would be a good thing Tor the
whole world IL the United States
aided in settling this controversy"
Although most European nations
have empty war chests, DR.. Sand
declared peace was FAR from
sight"
I'm Europe, people seem to think
IN terms Of hate" he. said. Every
nation was deceived by results Of
the war, for all thought they would
get more out of their victories than
increased taxation, and this was the
sole result to their people. This
condition is due to receptions prac-
ticed by statesmen during the war
WHeu Ihey WiIhHSIu INC ~ NIAA "OUA"
casualties, war losses and the
frlghteul cost Of the war.
The truth with taxes every.
where a terrible burden on the peo.
ple-has stunned Europe. There
will be no peace until nations are
satisfied with what they got out OF
the war. AS 1t il, each country
fears It's neighbor or is jealous Of
its ally. Lasting peace is only a
hope to Europe"