San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-15
With Billions Involved U. S.
Cannot Hold Aloof
From Europe.
SHOULD TAKE ACTION
Lawrence Says Clear Cut
Statement Of Position
Would Be Help.
Ry DAVID LAWRENCE.

Copyright, by The San Antonio Light
Washington, ID. C.. Aug. 15.-As-
suming that there had been no politi-
cal controversy in the United States
over the League of Nations or the
world court and America were APP
preaching the European problem with
out any previous connection with it,
there would be still room for the wild
est difference of opinion as TO what
American foreign policy should be in
the present grave crisis in Europe.
Anyone who has tried to form a
judgment of what America should do
will not have his mind cleared by a
visit to Europe. The chances are he
will find it even more confused. It's
a good deal like trying TO analyZe a
poker game without being able to
look at the cards of any of the play
ers. Most of the moves on the sur
face hardly reflect what is actually
going on. America is as distinct
part of the game as if she were a
European country. There seems to be
no way of disassociating the United
States from the matter for the very
substantial reason that $10,000,000.-
600 of American money is involved.
Granting that the United States will
never consider cancellation of the war
debt, the problem becomes even more
acute for Europe feels the burden of
that debt almost as much as any fac
tor in the entire economic situation.
In this connection it may be sur
prising to many people on this side of
the Atlantic but the writer can say
without qualification that about the
most unpopular thing British gov
eminent ever did was to agree to pay
the American war debt and about the
most unfavorable opinion that could
possibly be held of the American gov
eminent is held by the average man in
The street because he believes the
United States insisted on its pound of
flesh at time when the British are
staggering and stumbling.
How 1t Works Ont.
Just imagine nearly one-half of your
weekly salary being taken from you
by the government and then have the
.ATcrnment say it's necessary because
TnotEer country wants repayment of
= ,iar loan. Imagine also how anxious
e" average Britishcr is to pay any,
'hilg when out Of the war has come
r"Hch miiitarism and such a terrible
iiuN at British commerce that 1900
isij mrn are out of work and must ac-
cept The charity of a government
which in fear of revolution is com
PEELED TO support its poverty-stricken
people.
When history comes to be written
ten years hence, there will be serious
doubts as to the value of the British
debt settlement, so far as improving
the relations between the American
and British peoples. Americans are
paying the lowest per capita tax of
any Of the nations engaged in the war
and at the same time America is the
wealthiest of them all. Under such
circumstances the resentment among
the common people is indescribable.
though TO be sure in the government
circle the Importance of a nation pay,
ing its debts is July realized. Indeed
the British government is endeavoring
just now to use the TACT of Americas
1nsistence on payment as a lever to COM
pei France to scale down the amount
of German reparations to figure that
will yield revenue at once instead of
continental chaos.
The danger in all Europe today is
revolution and counter-revolution-a
war between classes. If the American
government could be sure of what is