The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1924-12-23
RANCE Indifferent
STILL TO u. S. DEBT
Iorcp DENIES PROGRESS TO
WARD SETTLEMENT. DE-
lends BRITISH ATTITUDE.

vAcHINGTON, d. CA true
.+rre of the French debt situation
Given to the house and the public
representative Crisp, of Georgia. a
.Iocratic leader and member of the
H. frnding commission, who denied
~ France had made definite pro-
sossI to the United States relative to
smdina her our-billion-dollar war
Crisp said that no representative of
L. French government had appeared
lore the debt funding commission,
H. that Ambassador Jusserand, Of
krance. had talked informally with
aCrstarv of the Treasury Mellon, and
kat Mellon had called the commission
paether and laid before them what
Nd happened.
Only Two Courses Open.
oyour commission, gentlemen" Mr..
riso said has many almost insur-
barriers to overcome. This
brqipn indebtedness is not like where
T. citizen or one corporation is in
hbted to another, where if the debtor
les not pay you can go into court
III oct a Judgment and recover your
honey. There are only two ways by
Ebich foreign debt can be settled;
h. is voluntary payment and the 9th
nv arbitrament of arms, and no
boe man or woman in the United
hates wants this government to pur-
H. the latter course. To me it is UNI
Ainkable. Therefore, the only way
.bur commission can act in these mat
srS is through diplomatic channels
Fesenting to foreign nations the fact
bat this government is anxious for
IL settlement of that Indebtedness.
81 do want to say to you, notwith-
landing what you may have read in
H. press, that France has made no
bncrete, definite proposition to this
spvernment relative to funding her in
Iebtedness. | have been member OF
be commission for two years and
hiring that period no representative OF
he French government has appeared
.eiore the commission A few weeks
b. the French ambassador had sew
fal conferences with Secretary Mel
BIZ. who is chairman, and apprised us
Il the substance of those converse
sons | do not think | am at liberty
h 20 into the details of what trans
Bred. but | can say to you there was
u definite proposition made, no sug-
sestion made, that for a moment
/ ould be accepted by this country.
British Prompt in Payment.
I"Now a good deal has been said in
BE- newspapers as to the actions and
|scussions in England relative to the
Aatement that was broadcasted to the
fleet that France was making prop
sition to settle her Indebtedness to
h United States. Now, gentlemen, |
ant to say to you that | have respect
BID admiration for his Britanic maj
kty's government.
k"The English government has al
&avs observed all OF its obligations
Nd agreements, whether those agree
4 Tents were to aid an ally in the de-
\ nse against an unjust war or Wheth-
/ it was to pay her obligations. Great
] britain is our largest creditor. Right
liter the armistice, or within reason
Rk time thereafter. Great Britain en-
Bred into negotiations with this gov
knment to fund her Indebtedness, and
rs made every payment under the
krms OF that agreement. She was the
Fst nation, being the greatest debtor,
fund her indebtedness.
Defends British.
Now it is perfectly natural that
/ reat Britain should desire to have
/ rance settle with her and Great
britain is doing exactly as you or l
sould if we had a debtor and the
EDITOR was proposing to settle with
bme OF his creditors-you and l
fould want to take steps to see that
sur indebtedness was also paid, and
&any people have been put into the
Bankruptcy court for trying to give
reference to some creditors over 9th
Is. Now England is in no way IN
Nrierring or attempting to interfere
#ith the settlement of the indebted
kSS France owes the United States.
N simply wants to have her own IN
fbtedness also settled, and | do not
pink she is blamable i'll the least Tor
RlrSulng that course"