The Washington times., 1923-10-18
u. S. Should Join Great
Britain in Demand on
France to Pay Debts


ference upon the manifestations of French mtarsm in central
Europe The is that in large measure re-
sponsble for the situation there
We made France what she today In the spring of 1917
she was beaten combatant in the great bed white
ready to give up struggle Her British ally stood be-
side her. the WALL about to be pushed through the
wall and the English Channel Then we came
At staggering cost to ourselves we needed Frances
desparng cry "Save perish and rescued her from
destruction sacrificed twenyfour billions
Of treasure hundred thousand young American lives
and the hundreds of thousands more American
soldiers addition loaned France three thousand mil
lion dollars and SOU interest principal has
been paid us by France of that three thousand million dollars
mot ONE sou has been paid either of principal or
INTEREST
Not only does France pay no cent of what us
but she takes which annually due treasury
and uses them support largest military establishment in
the world maintained to campaign OF conquest and
oppression contrary every principle for which entered
the
For to assert that the United States has no
right to speak its mind plainly France is to fout
On the contrary in this crisis have right to be
SILENT we anything by the ideals which President
formulated and for which soldiers fought
responsible for Germanys plight torn and
dsmembered her people facing winters starvation, denied
che opportunity of economic recovery by the French armies
lawessy laid hands upon the Ruh the heart Of Ger
manys fe
generous peace the liberal elements in Germany based
their hopes when they overthrow the Kaers government
and forced surrender Of the German armies.
- with the promises of Of reconciliation that
IA 1919 the allies Versailles to plan better world
The German defeat the German republication so
holly uged-the German disarmament German heplessness
today traceabe results Of America inter
venton the and Americas promise of endurable
settlement Germany would republcanze her institutions
and lay down her
To say that we moral obligation help Germany
get fair treatment to say that have moral obligations
TO carry the positive pledges made to Germany and to
Europe for Nation by Nations head
Secretary of State Hughes spoke the conscience Of the
country when in his New Haven address last December he
told France that this Nation had sympathy with the in
vason of the Rur method Of collecting French repa
ration
only sympathy with the events that have
followed We have adherence of the remoreess crushing
Of rmany e the ruthless Of rendering her unable
20 her daily bread say nothing of surplus sufficient
for the reparaon which pretext for the occupa
ton.
Today no mere of gentle remonsrance from
the American Secretary of State would halt the French
determination to destroy Germany.
Instead of words let the United States tempozng
with France and join Great Britain in demand upon France
that she pay what she and pay forthwith.
Let the faihess steward return his borrowed talents Let
America join England in exercising the economic in
their hands to curb the raging monster Of mtam that
threatens the destruction of European civilization