Evening star., 1925-01-22
DEBT CANCELLATION
SPEECH IS CHEERED
Chamber of Deputies Shows
Attitude of France on ObIi-
cations to United States.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN

BY Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News.
PARIS, January 22.-Unanimous
cheers of the whole French chamber
greeted the speech OF Opposition
Leader Louis Marin when he en-
deavored Wednesday night to prove
the United States and Great Britain
have not the right to claim from
France and other continental allies a
ful settlement Of war debts.
This indicates better than official
assurances of the French govern
ment the spirit prevailing through
France. which is opposed to refund
ing the debts. If sentimental argu-
ments were to prevail at the comm e
French-American debt conversations
IT is beyond doubt that the French
would be on solid ground.
NJ. Marin, who was a cabinet minis
ter during the war. did not make an
appeal for charity to the nations
American and British creditors, but
he contended that losses of human
life sustained by France and other
minor allies not only compensated
but exceeded the financial efforts OF
their creditors.
Argues on Economic Side.
France took away from economic
activities Al per cent of her male
population. The British sent to the
front only "a per cent and the
United States less than 9 per cent.
Almost half the French male popula-
tion was economically unproductive,
giving their lives to enable produc-
tive populations to continue undis-
turbed in their daily occupations.
Isn't that worth millions?" exclaimed
NJ. Marin.
Nj. Marin estimated that the lives
of 1.S00,000 Frenchmen were worth
at least $4,000, 100000
do our creditors actually believe
IL Is fair to ask US to pay for the
uniforms of those who died for the
common cause?" he asked. The
French deputy made detailed
examination of the manner in which
the borrowed sums had been spent
and came to the following con-
clusion:
THE treasury did not throw the
money away. Our men received for
risking their lives "a hours a day SO
month and never begrudged their
British Am erican comrades who were
paid 90 or 30 times a. much. Our
Industrial districts have been de
stroyed and our distressing financial
situation is due mainly to the fact
that our national resources are suf-
fering because they have been un-
productive for so many years and the
treasury must spend money TO re-
construct them"
"If Great Britain and the United
States had spent the billions we have
been spending for military prepara
tions before the war This would not
have happened and We would have
been in a position to repay our debts.
But this is not the case and they
should now share some of our pre-
which our Army would have been un-
prepared and today, instead of hav-
ing a British American economic and
financial hegemony in Europe. we
would have had a German. These
are facts which must be taken into
consideration by our friends and
creditors and it is the duty of the
French government to'put these facts
before them when they begin to ne
gotiate the question of refunding ouT
war debts.
Government Is Threatened.
Unanimous approval by the Cham
ber of this speech will make the gov
ernments situation difficult, because
IL shows Parliament, including Pre-
mier Herriots supporters rally them
selves to these views, and 1T is more
than probable the government will be
from both the British and American
governments a substantial reduction
in the war debts.
Copyright. 1925, by Chicago Daily News co..
urrn LIGHTLY HERE