The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-02-08
(By1Associated Press Leased wirel

(Byk Associated Press Leased wire!
Washington, d. c. Congressional
approval of the war debt funding
agreement negotiated with Great Bri-
tain was requested by President Hard
ing today as a "recommitment OF the
Notwithstanding world to the validity
of contract"
Coupled with this approval, the
president added in an address at a
Joint session of the Senate and House,
Congress should enact into law the adj
ministration ship bill because "it is as
important to avoid losses as it is to
secure funds on debts"
Ample time for action on both, Of
these measurse, it was declared, by
Mr.. Harding, remains before the pres
emit Congress goes out of existence on
March A, and either, he said, was fit
to be recorded as a chapter of great
achievement.
No Specific recommendation.
The president made no specific
recommendation as to the form the
action of Congress on the British debt
should take, leaving it to the leaders
in Congress to decide what method
should be adopted to amend the present
law so as to permit contamination of
the agreement recently reached by the
American and British debt commission.
at was manifest from the begin
ming" he said "that Great Britain
could not undertake any program of
payment which would conform to the
limitations of time and interest rates
which the commission had been au-
thorized to grant But here was a
great nation acknowledging its obli-
cations and seeking terms in which
it might repay.
$50 your commission proceeded to
negotiate in business way for fair
went so far as it believed the Ameri-
can sense of fair play would justify.
Decision of Vast Meaning.
at means vastly more than the mere
funding and the ultimate discharge of
the largest international loan ever con-
tracted, 1t is a recommitment of the
English-speaking world to the validity
of contract; it is in effect plight
against war and war expenditures, and
rigid adherence to that production and
retrenchment which enhances stability
precisely as it discharges obligations y
Abiding indirectly to proposals to
attach to the Congressional act of ap-
prevail Of soldiers bonus bill. the
president reminded Congress that the
Wartime authorization for the loans
contained in itself a stipulation that
%bo ~, xx-oe 10 i
be applied to the retirement of liberty
bonds and other government issues.
Is Fair and just"
AS part of his statement on the
debt negotiations the executive read
report from the American commits
sion, headed by Secretary Mellon, de-
scribing the settlement as "fair and
Just to both governments" and predict
ing that it would make a most inn
portant contribution to international
stability"
Mr. Harding's appeal for action on
the ship bill was prompted he said,
by suggestions that its opponents were
seeking to prevent roll-call on it
before the end of the session.
"Mere avoidance by prolonged de-
bate" he declared, els a mark of i'm
potence on vitality important public
question. / plead for decision. If
there is favorable majority, the bill
should be enacted. If majority is
opposed, defeat will be decisive. Then,
if Congress fails in providing the re-
quested alternative measure, the exc
cutive branch of the government may
proceed as best it can to end the losses
in liquidation and humiliation ;,