The Washington times., 1924-12-30
DEBT PLEDGE Of
JUSSERAND
PUZZLES
In View Of elemental State
mont, French Enjoys Posi-
ton Astounds Officials
BY GEORGE n. HOLMES.
InternAtional News service.

F ~
International News Scrvhc.
Administration officials are frank.
~ puzzled over the French debt
With the minister of finance in
Paris talking openly and officially
TO parliament of repudiating the
debt. and making no effort to ar
rive at an agreement with creditors,
the Debt Funding Com
here declared today they
are at loss to account for the re-
iterated pledge of Ambassador JUS
serand that France intends to pay
the $4,000. 000. 900 borrowed here.
m. Jusserand talks one way; his
talks another, one
member of the commission told
international News Service today.
Which are we to believer"
To Seek Showdown.
In this situation, the American
Governments only recourse, Il was
said today. is to move for show
down at as early a date as pos
sible. The machinery OF interna-
tional exchange has already started
to move In this direction by the
emphatic warning that emanated
from the State Department yester-
day that this Government will not
nor listen to any talk Of
The warning was un-
official, hut 1t reached Paris never.
theless quickly through the usual
channels.
M. Clemental's statement to the
chamber that the American and
British debts were political debts
which France does not expect 10
have to pay did not catch Admins
tration officials here entirely I'M
though the frankness OF
the admission caused intense sur
prise.
ParmentieT Visit.
Members of the debt funding COM
however, have been pre-
pared for something of the sort, it
was disclosed today, ever since the
debt commission came
TO the United States two years ago.
M. Parmeutierl came ostensibly 20
discuss settlement" yet he po
litely and firmly rejected every
overture made by American Off
Gals, anxious for any kind of set
and returned to Franz"
leaving only wonderment behind in
as to why he had
come.
In this connection, 1t was re-
vealed today for the first time that
when M. Parmentier.. was here.
members of the American debt com.
asked him to take back
to Paris a plan of settlement pro
~ fnS for
and payments TO be stretched over
Il period of 100 years. with rate
Of interest approximating that paid
BY the British in their settlement.
Liberal Offer Made
This offer was considerably more
liberal than the settlement effected
With the British. The Baldwin mis-.
sion accepted a plan of no mora
.orium and payments over sixty
seven years.
Parmentier replied to the offer
~ stating that his government had
not authorized" him to receive or
any such concrete propo,
;ition,
This was the beginning OF the
laWning suspicion on the part Of
he American commissioners that
France intended non-payment. This
suspicion grew steadily, though
quietly, until few weeks ago
when M. Jusserand voluntarily
anne to Secretary Mellon and said
hat France intended to pay her
lebt. They discussed the whole
question in a broad general way.
The same proposition M. Parmen-
Ter rejected was also preached to
VI. Jusserand, it was learned to-
lay, and the ambassadors reply
vas:
Jusserand's Pledge
When the time comes to take
Up the question OF paying the debt,
ny government will send a com.
mission here"
M. JusserGnd said he, too, was
lot authorized to receive and trans.
nit concrete propositions.
This was the situation when OH
saturday N. elemental went before
he chamber with his balance sheet
ind badly said that France cor
;idered her war debts as political
1ebts," which she did not feel call
ed upon to pay.
How to reconcile this attitude in
Paris with the frequently reiterated
pledge of M. Jusserand In public
speeches that France intends to
pay to the last cent" Nls a matter
hat has caused more wonderment
N official circles here than any
hing since the war.
The State Departments positive,
though unofficial warning, that the
United States expects payment has
been communicated to Paris. 1t was
,abled by M. Jusserand last night.
The Administration will watch it's
raoonfinn IN poY.o hofora mo hin n.