Evening star., 1925-12-16
WAR DEBT PACTS
BITTERLY ASSA|LED
AS SMOOT ASKS OK.
Italian and Belgian Agree.
ments in Particular Meet
Opposition.
REED SEEKS INQUIRY
INTO ANY PROPAGANDA
Demands Report or Money Spent
by Governments or Others to
Influence Senate Action.

1ialN was bitterly dSSSiiio' 80
ate today when Senator Srloo' ~
I-i7b sought to call up the oiil ra'i
t,inr the settlement negotiated with
IraIv and five other debtor nations
senator Reed of Missouri. who icn
,he attack. also introduced a resoi"
-ion directing the foreign reldlioi9
committee to investigate ana report
20 tho Senate what foreign govern
n,erts or corporations and what III
Ii,.id,als or corporations in this coun-
,r,. have eXpended money to influence
.ctiop of the United s ates on the fof-
eicn debts.
rbe Peed resolution is interpreted
,,cn as directing the foreign relations
cor,n,ittee TO investigate and ascer-
tair what moneys have been expended
a,d hy what organizations to lntlu-
cnrn the action of the United STATES
with regard to entering into the
World Court.
The entire foreign policy of the ad-
ninistration would go under nre
through the adoption of the Reed reso-
Iution should il be adopted The
resolution went over under the rules
al the request of Senator Curtis, the
Republican leader.
Senator Smoot sought to have them
taken up for consideration, leading
To a vote on ratification. Immediately
there was objection from Senator
Reed. Senator Johnson OF Cailfornia
and Senator Norris of Nebraska. all Oh
whom insisted they required turtnef
information regarding the ita!lHn
and Belgian debt settlements oeloie
action was had.
Inst before Senator Smoot asked to
AXE M the debt settlement. Senator
Feed had introduced resolution dl'
rectinE the foreign relations commit
lee of the Senate 10 investigate
whether any foreign government or
any citizens or corporations OF any
foreign government are, OF nave peeh'
expendinG furnishing any moneys
or credits for the purpose OF directly
or Indirectly Influencing the action OF
the Government of the United states,
and particularly of the Senate OF the
United States, In any manner anecting
the foreign policies or relations OF the
United States.
Full Probe Asked.
The resolution further directed the
committee to investigate ana ascer-
tain the ability of the foreign coui-
tries indebted to the United states 10
nav and discharge their Indebtedness.
The committee also was directed 10
ascertain the extent to which 1ndl-
yidrIals. firms or corporations nave
made loans to foreign countries IN
debted to the United states or to the
individuals or corporations or lhoSe
countries. the disposition OF the pro.
ceedy of such loans and the terms ana
conditions under which they we're
made The committee waS directed TO
ascertain. too. what moneys nave
been pledged or expended and what
organizations exist TO affect the action
of the Government of the Un1teu
States in its relations, or contemplated
relations. with foreign countries
on objection of Senator Curtis, the
Republican leader. the Reed resolution
went over until tomorrow under the
rules. When Senator Smoot made his
renueSt to take up the debt settlements
Senator Reed pointed out that his
resolution bore directly on these set
Elements. and that he could not agree
10 have them taken up now.
Sees Long Discussion.
These settlements involve billions
If dollars he said, which will either
come out of the pockets of American
taxpayers or the people of foreign
countries | cannot give consent to
rake them up and pass them through
in a hurry-sCurry fashion. Indeed.
am rather astonished that we are
asked TO pass these settlements now,
and | hope they will go over until
after the holidays
Senator Smoot said il has been his
hone to dispose of these debt settle
ments in the Senate before the House
sent the tax bill to the Senate. so that
the House could act on the debt set
Elements while the Senate was consid-
ernC the tax measure.
Senator Norris said that there were
two of the settlements. the Italian
and Belgian. which would probably
lead to much debate. and Senator
Johnson and Senator McKellar of Ten
nessee concurred in the suggestion
that the Italian settlement would lead
10 long discussion.
Says House May Object.
Senator Swanson of Virginia called
attention to the fact that some of rhe
House members insist that the bills
ratifying the debt settlements must
originate in the House. since the CON
stitution provides that all legislation
to raise revenue must begin in that
body.
Senator SmOot and Senator Robin
son 70 Arkansas. the Democratic
leader. declined TO assent TO any such
the debt settlements were not to be
classed as raising revenue" Senator
Swanson said that he had merely call
I'd attention to the attitude of some
House members so as to avoid having
the Senate pass the bills and the
House then send them back with the
claim that the Senate had no right to
originate them
Senator Reed Of Pennsylvania suS.
gested that Senator Smoot call up the
four debt settlements other than the
Italian and Belgian settlements. since
there appeared to be TO objection to
hem.
Senator Reed of Missouri. however,
declared that he did not know whether
there would be opposition or not and
he did not wish TO proceed now to act
on any of these settlements.
Smoot Withdraws Motion.
Senator Smoot said that he would
withdraw his request for consideration
of the debt settlement bills at this
rime Debate on the Italian settle
ment. however. continued with Sen
ator Harrison of Mississippi Senator
Reed and Senator Howell of Nebraska