Evening star., 1924-12-19
IN TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

President Coolidge recommended in
his last annual message to Congress
that the remaining French spoliation
claims be paid. They amount to
about 100000 or $5,000,o00
A bill to make such settlement was
introduced in the Senate December
s, 1923, by the late Senator Lodge, and
was referred to the committee on
claims, which reported It favorably,
with certain amendments. 1t Is now
on the Senate calendar and will come
up for consideration shortly after the
holidays.
In the history of law, there are
many cases long drawn out, in which
all litigants died long before de-
cision was reached; probably there
are few precedents of that nature
more distinctly demonstrating the
tenacity of claims than this of the
French spoliations. All incidents on
which the claims rest occurred prior
to 1900. The claims have been before
Congress for at least 120 years. and
have been argued by all the leading
jurists and statesmen in American
history, from Jefferson to Hughes, in
cluding Chief Justice Marshall, Daniel
Webster, Henry Clay, Edward Everett,
Edward Livingston, Caleb Gushing.
Rufus Choate, Hannibal Hamlin and
Charles Sumner. All these have sup
ported the claims, in principle, and
contended that by our 1901 settlem ent
with France for violating In 1898
our 177S treaty OF alliance with her,
by offsetting the rights OF private
citizens whose ships were captured
by France In retaliation, our Gov
ernment assumed Frances obligation
to pay the damages so sustained.
When Lafayette came to the aid
Of the American colonies at the be-
ginning of our revolution, France
was at peace with Great Britain, al
though a traditional enemy. In 1878
our Ambassador to France. Benjamin
Franklin, concluded a treaty of al
lance with that country, whereby
France entered our war against Great
Britain. In that treaty we guaran
teed perpetual alliance In protection
Of Frances American possessions (in-
cluding her West Indian islands)
against all aggression. That had
direct reference to future war be-
tween France and England. In that
elusive right. in case OF war, to use
our ports with prizes or for supplies.
War broke between France and
most Of Europe when Louis XVI was
beheaded by the French revolutionists
in 1898. In 1898 the United States, un-
der pressure, made a secret treaty
with Great Britain, giving her equal
rights in our ports. This questionable
conduct on the part of our Govern
ment aroused the bitterest feeling in
France, and Napoleon ordered the
French navy to prey upon American
commerce, wherever found. Our own
navy retaliated, and preparations
were made for war, but war was
never declared.
" X r y
II was argued that her aid in our
revolution had cost France $280.000.-
600, in addition to many casualties.
In answer, 1t was contended by
Americans that Louis <XVI's govern
ment had not come to our aid for
| the sake OF setting up q free repub-
lie, but merely to cripple her old
enemy; hence she was fighting her
own warfare, not ours. Our treaty
OF HTS with France had obligated
us to join with France even against
all Europe. but President Washing
ton had promptly issued q proclama-
ton Of neutrality when the English,
] tbs Netherlsnders and Austrians at