Evening star., 1925-01-01
TENSION RELAXES
ON FRENCH DEBTS
Officials Appear to Breathe
Easier, But Remain Silent
on Facts.

Official Washington seemed breath
ing easier today, following receipt of
reports from Ambassador Herrick at
Paris concerning the French position
on inter-allied debts.
Although there was no official of
the State Department who would
formally admit that the dispatch had
ever been received from Ambassador
Herrick, IL was noted that the ten
sion which has characterized the
atmosphere here since NJ Clementel
saw MT TO publish his now celebrated
balance sheet leaving out of account
the French debt to this Government,
had materially lessened
The results OF the American ambas-
sador's conversations with Premier
Herriot and NJ. CIementeI were be-
lieved to have been fully outlined by
Mr.. Herrick in his cable TO this Gov
ernment. Inquiry at the State De-
partment, however, was met with
the fiat statement that the subject
or the ambassadors report was not
one that could be commented on.
UnofHciaI Reports Cheerful.
Unofficial advices from Paris recit-
ing the statement of NJ CIementeI to
Ambassador Herrick, in which the
French minister recognized the obli-
CATION or his government to the
United States and declared its inten-
tion to honor the debt, were received
by administration leaders with no
little satisfaction. The statement
that Ambassador Herrick had trans
mitted NJ. Clementels remarks to
Secretary Hughes, however produced
only a reiteration of the departments
decision mot to comment"
Oficials who took occasion to talk
at length on the French debt uues-
ton at the time of the publication in
France OF NJ. CIementeFs balance
sheet, which omitted reference to
money owed the United States, re-
mained silent today. There was no
word forthcoming either to disproye
receipt of such information from Mr..
Herrick or to admit the arrival here
of the Ambassadors dispatches.
Silent on English Visitors.
Much of the same attitude marked
the action of officials here, respecting
reports of the arrival in New York
last night of Montague Collett Nor
man. governor of the Bank of Eng
land. and Sir Allen Garrett Anderson,
a director of the same institution.
At all important offices in the Treas
ury and State Departments, and even
at the British embassy, 1t was said
merely that nothing was known re-
garding the mission of the distin-
guished financiers to this country.
Treasury officials admitted only
that they had received word of the
visit when Gov. Strong of the New
York Federal Reserve Bank request
ed that the department extend Gus
tomary courtesies Of the New York
port to Messrs. Norman and Ander-
son when they arrived. Secretary
Mellon, friend of Mr.. Norman's for
years, did not known officially of his
presence in this country, nor did Sec
retary Hughes.
One official, discussing the visit of
the British financfers, said 1t appeared
to him personally that they had not
left the Bank of England at this time
to come grouse shooting" here. 1t
was more likely, it was said, that Mr.
Norman and his friend, as fiscal Off
GERS of Great Britain, had a keen in
terest in the question of war debts
between the United States, France and
England and the matter of claims col
lections from Germany by the United
States, which already has Been the
subject of note exchanges between
London and Washington. 1t also was
suggested the flnsnciers might be in
terested in the attitude of the United
states on questions to come up for
discussion January before the allied
finance ministers in Paris.
Although the attitude of the United
states on war debts and claims has
been repeatedly presented to the al
lied and associated powers through
official announcements made by Gov
ernment spokesmen here 1t is re-
garded as probable that Messrs. Nor
man and Anderson, through personal
contact with high officials of the
Washington administration, might be
helpful to their colleagues participat
ing in the Paris meeting for the Lon
don government.