The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-07
SHIP Bill
INCL I)[)ED
n HIS
4
President Secs .BritaIn's COM
lnitment' to Pay Is Last
Of War Clouds.
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES,
1nternafIonnl News service.

a.
Internaflonnl News sarvice.
President Harding asked
Congress today to approve the
settlement that has been con-
|cluded on the British debt Of
~, 600, 0OO; 600, and coupled
with his request an ardent plea
for action on the ship subsidy
bill, now water-logged and fac
ing defeat BY inaction in the
Senate.
Overriding his physician :
objection against q personal
appearance before Congress
while convalescing from a
severe cold, Mr.. Harding went
Id person 10 the Capital and
reid his message to the as
senabled House and Senate
see king to drive home his argll-
meats ii person rather than
submit them to the colorless
recital Of q reading clerk.
Very Short Message
The Presidents message was
one Of the shortest he has ever
delivered to Congress. It was
brief and business like. He read
the terms Of the settlement agreed
upon and then left to Congress
sional discretion the manner IN
which it would be ratified either
by resolution or by amending the
present debt-funding law.
Warns Against Riders.
Coupled with his plea for speedy
action was a warning against at
tacking on any riders" which will
seek to dispose OF the money which
Great Britain win annually pay
the United States--in effect,
warning to the advocates OF e sol
diers, bonus against seeking to tie
up the funds in advance.
Il am not unInindful, said tina
President, of the disposition to
pledge the application Of antieis
pated payments in giving sanction
to settlement. It is not necessary
to remind Congress that the use OF
moneys secured in repayment OF
war loans has been pledged by the
very grant of authority making the
loans, l. e., the retirement of Lib.
erty bonds.
"Of course" he continued, "the
repeal of that commitment is al
ways within the authority Of Con.
gress, if such repeal is consider
ed WISE" The President expressed
the opinion, however, that 1t would
be better to ratify the agreement
forthwith, with no strings attach
ed.
Unstinted praise was accorded
Great Britain for the business-like
manner in which she has recognized
her obligation to repay the United
States and has now undertaken to
discharge it.
Is Great Object Lesson.
The British-Amerlcan accord on
this controversial issue, the Presi-
dent said, would stand as great
object lesson to a world that is
staggering in encouragement and
bowed with the sorrows of wars
that were and fear of new wars
which humanity is praying may be
avoided"
The agreement means more than
the mere money involved, Mr.. Hard
ing said.
"It is a recommitment of the
English-speaking WORLD to the va
lidity of contract: it is in effect
plight against war and war expendi-
lures and a rigid adherence to that
production and retrenchment which
enhances stability precisely as 1t
discharges obligations.
1.-THE call of the world today is for
integrity of agreements. the sanetity
of covenants, the validity of con-
tracts. Here is the first clearing
of war-clouded skies in a debt
burdened world, the sincere COM
mitment Of one great nation to
validate it's financial pledges and
discharge it's obligations in the
highest sense of financial honor"
No hard bargain was driven with
the British government, Mr.. Hard
ing said, and none was Intended.
Stressing the desirability for
prompt ratification. the President
reminded his hearers that untold
calamity might have followed, and j,
might still follow. the failure Of
this aereement--the first that the
United States has concluded with
its score OF debtors.
The failure Of the British
undertaking would have spread