The daily worker., 1924-12-30
u. S. PANIED
over french
Debt SLAM
g 'RepudiGtiOn" of -Four
Billion Dollars
Special to The DaIIy Worker,

NRSTlliNA YIN, OSCs a.
The American capitalist govern
ment regards with considerable
apprehension Frances conspic-
uous Ignoring of her war debts,
and it was indicated strongly
here today that the United
States shortly will take steps to
obtain from France a clear and
unequivocal statement as to
whether or not she intends to
pay the $4,000,0OO,0O0 borrowed
from America.
The highest officials in Silent
Calls administration made 1t clear that
they are very angry and consider the
statement of the French minister of
finance to the French parliament on
Saturday as constituting little short of
direct repudiation Of the debt.
"A Political Debt"
The French minister in reporting to
the parliament on Saturday and giving
the balance sheet" of the nation, en-.
tirely left out the debts of France to
both England and the United States
from among the national liabilities.
In note appended to the heading of
foreign debts" reference is made to
memorandum accompanying the re.
port. This memorandum is 300 typed
pages, and in one section explains that
the French government does not ex.
pect to have to pay the total of these
obligations as they are only "a politi.
cal debt"
Besides this, Finance Minister
elemental said that "The United
States has no legal right to claim
for reparations from Germany with
the allies because it did not sign the
Versailles treaty"
A Pained Surprise.
Among administration ofiicials who
are directly concerned with debt fund.
ing operations these announcements
were received with sort OF pained
surprise; and in congressional circles
they aroused storm of indignation
that before many days will break out
of bounds and have a full airing on
the senate floor.
Franco-American relations, appar.
emily, are due for series of jars, for
on all sides the opinion was expressed
today that the American government
cannot allow to go unchallenged this
virtual reputation OF Frances war
debt.
M. Clementars statement that
France does not expect to pay strips
the mask from the negotiations" that
have been in progress here between
Ambassador Jusserand and Secretary
of the Treasury Mellon.
Somebody's a Liar.
The surprise and resentment in ad-
ministration circles over the Clemen-
tai report to parliament was further
heightened by the fact that no longer
ago than last Monday M. Jusserand,
in public speech here, declared that
France intended to discharge her debt
to the last penny, desiring only long
time moratorium or breathing spell,
and consideration given her peculiar
position.
This pledge by Ambassador Jusse-
rand, It was pointed out today, hardly
comedies with the statement Of the
French finance minister that there is
no justification for such brutal addi.
ton to our liabilities" as the Ameri-
can and British war debts.
Continuing, he said: "The inter.al-
lied debts represent an exchange of
resources, and register the move.
ments which took from one country to
another the funds which each in its
sphere could supply. II we abandon
the juridicial plane and regard the
matter from the higher plane Of co
operation and fairness, strict justice
would seem to demand general pool
ing of war expenditures and their al
lotment among the allied states pro-
portionately to the riches Of each one.
Harl HarI Look at This.
Should such theory be carried out
to its logical conclusion, 1t was said
today, not only would the United
States receive none Of the money
loaned the allies, but probably Il
would be discovered that the United
States owed money to France and
Great Britain instead of vice-versa.
The entire exposition OF the war
debt problem by Minister elemental is
In direct variance with the policy OF
the American government.
A systematic propaganda for repudi
alton of war debts has been conducted
ever since the close of the war. II
has been generally ignored by Ameri.
can officials because OF its unofficial
aspect but only in the case OF Soviet
Russias reputation OF debts con.
tracted by the czar to suppress the
workers has the United States been
quite vocal in It's hostility.
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