Evening star., 1925-09-21

President Coolidge is the author OF
an innovation, as far as his Whte
House career is conceEned, in request
ing unqualified support Of the press
during the French debt negotiations.
1t remains to be seen whether he will
get it. In effect, editors and news
writer's are asked to adopt Stephen
Decatur's maxim of right or wrong.
my country" The Literary Digest re-
Gently held a symposium on the ques-
ton Of the treatment Of European
debtors. It revealed very wide
divergence Of view. Differences of
opinion still exist. 1t is understood.
for instance, that the funding COM
mission is inclined to make general
concessions to France. But Senator
Borah opposes any greater hberality
than was extended to Great Britain.
So does Mr.. Crisp Of Georgia. one Of
the House representatives on the
funding commission. Mr.. Crisp is a
Democrat. A member Of his party re-
marked to this observer: Another
American President. about to enter
upon negotiations with France, called
for united support. but was denied It..
VIII Calvin Coolidge get that which
was withheld from Woodrow Wilson,"
X Z
In their duel with NJ. Caillaux.
Messrs. Coolidge. Mellon, Kellogg,
Smoot, Hoover ct al, are assured in
advance of strong public support. The
French are under no illusions on that
score. It is veraciously related that a
self.styled American publicity expert
visited NJ. Caillaux during the Sum-
mer and offered his professional serv-
ices. He represented that opinion in
1t k~xy ,trr1,$ hA nd
Gated along French lines. M. Caillaux
indicated that he was not interested.
France knows that Americas desire
to make her pay to the limit Of her
demonstrated capacity Is pretty uni
versal. Cancellation sentiment no
longer prevails to any appreciable de-
gree. For that President Coolidge Is
mainly responsible. For two years he
has necessarily insisted upon vindica-
ton. in letter and spirit, of the prin.-
ciple Of the sanctity Of international
debts. When the President received
NJ. Daeschner last January the French
Ambassador was told, in so many
words, that Americas contribution to
World War victory wipes out the
La Fayette business. e., the idea
that we still owe France for services
rendered $50 years ago. Some Amert-
can knights of the Legion Of Honor
Olu IlOL 1lhc SOOl1uSc pain lllhl.
But this country did, and said so.
X X
There's a good deal of curiosity as
to what suddenly inspired Secretary
Kellogg to remind American aviators
fighting with the French in Morocco
that they are flying, literally. in the
face of the laws of the United States.
For two years before we made war
on Germany thousands Of Americans
were in the ranks of allied armies.
The Canadian forces were full of them.
So were the French. Allen Seeger
kept his rendezvous with death" as, q
poilu. The American ambulance" OF
which Representative A. Piatt Andrew
Of Massachusetts was a prominent
member, rendered yeoman service In
the French army in 1915 and 1916. So
far as known. no effort was ever made
to recall these American volunteers
from alien service or warn them that
they were breaking the laws of their
/ country. Near the new United States
embassy in Paris stands beautiful
statue in glorification of the Yankee
lads who died for France. There are
sure to be those who'll say that Amer.
lea. in calling of Col. Sweeny and his
comrades from the Rtflan skyline.
forgets that Lafayette. steubsn. Pu.
1aAki. KosciNsxka and Roohsmhean