Evening star., 1923-09-02
ALLIES TO SHIFT
BLAME UPON j. S.
Debt Policy of America Held
Responsible for Europe's
!, Financial TangIe.
nv Cable 70 The Star and New York Tribune.
Copyright. 1923

t0pyrlgHt, lo-S.
PARIS. September lit might as
we'll be said now because there is
no longer any doubt about il. A con-
siderable part of interallied Europe
which has never agreed on anything
now is mentally agreed on one thing
If the reparations bout, which be-
gins some time early this month,
between Premiers Poincare and
Baldwin results in the usual failure
then interallied Europe is preparing
to shift the blame. not on Germany
nor on themselves. but on the United
States.
Naturally they will not directly
charge in their barrage of diplomatic
notes that Washington ia the OBJ
Joint effort of collecting some 50,-
000.000.000 gold marks from Ger
many. but the inference will be un-
mistakably there. To those studying
European psychology nothing Is more
Symptomatic than the private arGu
merit that occurred the other day at
4 luncheon in one of the Paris clubs
\ group of French. English and
American friends were seated by
chance at what is known as the
az usual, got around TO interallied
debts and reparations-the order of
the Importance now being changed
because, as it is being said. the set
tlement of reuarations now depends
on the settlement of debts. and the
matter of debts depends on the
United States.
At this luncheon the conversation
took place in the most friendly tone
and was marked by frankness. 1t
held a grain of thought for the Ameri-
can. 1t was indeed astounding to
see France and England cast aside
all transchannel disagreements for
the benefit of joining in a frontal at
tack on their American friend. The
following position was taken.
IF there should be failure, within
comparatively brief time, to settle
at least the immediate demands of
the reparations problem. the reSpon-
sibility will rest with America. Eng
land and France are no longer hiding
what they expect to receive from
Germany. France wants $4,000, 600
900 gold marks. England wants
nothing She is merely demanding
United States has insisted on her
promiSsory note somewhere around
that sum, over the little matter OF
war debts. contracted for the COM
mon cause and interests of human
liberty, being paid.
France is asking the money from
Germany because she has the repair
bill to meet as a result of some oi
her provinces being badly smash &c
up. Belgium is also asking some
5000, 100000 and other allies seek
smaller amounts, but those claims
are only incidental. The only reason
that Britain is asking for reparation:
from Germany or payment of wal
United States.
Question L. s. Views.
THE only reason France is back
q xvh
rations problem and the sacrifice OF
her original claims is that she owes
the United States war debts contract.
ed In the war to preserve human lib
erty. Now that the situation is clear
and the United States understands it
why do the Americans stand in the
way of the settlement of repara.
tions?'
These are not the exact words. OF
course, but the trend of the argu-
ment is just that Washington is
not asked to cancel the debts, but
there is no longer any doubt as to
what Europe is thinking. 1t only re-
quired the British note of some time
ago, followed up by the French reply
and speech or two by Poincare and
the discussion Of all these by the
european press, in order to create
the mental processes which were ac-
tive about the luncheon table of the
club. the same feeling being in evil
dence almost everywhere
Despite the fact that official inter
change of diplomatic documents and
subsequent speeches created this line
or conversation, which allies and ma
tionals are beginning to juggle, there
is not the slightest hint that it is en- =
couraged either in Paris, London or
any of the foreign Offices 1t simply
exists mysteriously. The charge that
we are responsible for almost all the
current ills Of Europe, including Ger
n fro
1870: was again revived by certain
sections of the press and by cafe con-
YerSaticns.
Public Uniformed,
o1ncial Europe knows what the
american policy with regard to war
aeots is. but unofficial Europe-the
press and the public alike-whether
secretly inspired by oflcialdom or
not. Is airing it's views with a CAV
aoa noon Just now. The United States
is being put in the position of an in
rerdsiomal nsria5 Shylock at delicate
governments know that Washington
ls In no position politically either TO
talk cancellation or even to make
generous promises
conre me speech .Ha1. Of Poincare at Gondre-
court week ago, whether by design
OF not. carried out the theme Of debts
pelng contracted in a common cause
me premier said. in part:
recall the letter that Benjamin
FRANKLIN wrote in 1777 from his UttIa
retreat at Passy to DR.. Cooper ~ 10
a common saying in Paris that the
american cause is the cause of hu-
mankind, and we are fighting for the
Iioer1y OF Europe in fighting for US.
rnfer continued, "Frenchmen either in
New York or San Francisco would
nave mad some reason in writing ~ a
i,.ar isian friend. 1t is common say
nS IN tne United States that the
cause that France is fighting for is
the cause of humankind, and in fight :
ing Tor her liberty we are fighting for
that of America" io'
Sought Friendshfp.
recalling the American troops in
france, the premier added, II be-
ieVed that two democracies, Connect
eN SO long by the similarity. Of their
institutions and by the reciprocity az
their sentiments, would eventually
contract on the battlefield an i'm !.
mortal friendship" ''''
The premier. did not mention
Frances present war debt. hut =,
will be recalled that when Franklin
spoke at Passy in 1777 our war deb,
10 France was not settled. Perhans
the premier did not intend to make
such a broad hint to the American
farm farm oioc' 5000 miles away, but he
stirred up something at home. Read
ing now from the leading editorial
of Liberte." which is somewhai
stronger, but indicative of printed
opinion in all the Paris press of the
past week.
The gravest thing that has We,
happened in the history of repara.
tions was at the end of last year
when Baldwin, not yet premier
negotiated the consolidation of the
British debt toward the United States
England created a dangerous pre-.
cedent by. binding herself to REIN.
burse the United States for The u,a,