Evening star., 1925-01-28
HERR|OT DECLARES
FRANCE WILL NOT
DENY OBLIGATIONS
Premier, Addressing Cham
ber, Says, However, That
Total Should Be Reduced.
By the Associated Press.

by the Associated Press.
PARIS, January 2S.-In an address
to the Chamber of Deputies today,
Premier Herriot declared that the
first thing l must say is that France
does not intend to deny her debts"
continuing his comments on in
ternational obligations, the premier
said: 1T is not this government that
Will disavow the principle of debts
contracted towards the allies and
their associates during the war"
He maintained, however. that there
ought to be a reduction of the total
that the United States claims.
Laying before the chamber the gov
ernment's policy on questions of
foreign policy NJ. Herriot, in less than
hve minutes, disposed of the problem
of interallied debts. His general ad-
dress on foreign matters lasted sew
eral hours.
Fear of Offending.
Il will say very little on this sub
Ject, the premier told the chamber,
because the suscep ptibilities of GER
tain great friends are such that
words, even If expressing the most
sublime and noblest sentiments, are
apt to be interpreted in a manner
which risks arousing, If not danger
at least embarrassment. France has
always been true to her word She
VIII be so in the question of our
debts. She will show her customary
good will, but she has the right to
expect the same good will from her
creditors.
We are still in the midst of dis
cussions on this affair of debts, and
anything | might say from the height
of this tribune might open up a
press polemic through the varied in
terpretations which might be given
my words, and that is the thing |
wish at all costs to avoid"
Refraining from sentimental outbursts
and treating the debt of France to the
United States from what he character
lied as business mans viewpoint,
Louis Dubois, former president of the
reparation commission, declared at the
conclusion of long address in the
Chamber Of Deputies that the United
claims against France, not only in
equity and right, but also to safeguard
her own interests.
NJ. Dubois based his arguments
upon figures, the accuracy for which
he vouched for through the knowledge
he had acquired while leading the
reparation commission. He paid spe-
cial attention to the recent speech of
Senator Borah on the debt question,
asserting that instead of the 26,000,-
100000 gold marks (s6. 0.000. .000)
which Senator Borah said France had
received from Germany on reparation
account, ne (Dubois) had adduced the
figures to show that Germany up to
last September had paid to all the al
lies, according to reparation commits
sion figures. less than $500, 00O, 900 gold
marks, of which more than 5,500.000,-
600 were for occupation costs and coal
advances under the Spa agreement.
Cites French Total.
AS for Frances receipts from Ger
many he said.
II bring you figures to show that
France has received only 100000
gold marks in cash and 1888. 900, 900
gold marks in kind, including the Sarre
mines, valued at 30O,00O,000 gold
marks"
He could not believe. said NJ. Du-
bois, that America and England would
demand from France nearly twice the
amount which they themselves had
France should receive
from Germany under the Dawes plan
which he placed roughly at 10000
900, 900 gold marks over a period of
81 years, while Frances total debts
to the United States and England he
at more than $1,000, 000,-
900 gold marks, principal and interest.
Confident in the safeguard guar
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