Evening star., 1925-08-10
BELGIUM PLEDGES
TO HONOR DEBT, BUT
ASKS FOR [EN|ENCY
De Cartier Says War and
Postwar Conditions Should
Be Considered.
U. S. TO BE REASONABLE.
MELLON TELLS ENJOYS
Ambassador Cites Two-Billion Loss
Through German Occupation Dur
ing Unjust" Conflict.
By the Associated Press

BIZ the Associated Press.
Belgium will honor all her Just obli-
cations, but will ask her creditors to
take into consideration exceptional
war and post-ward conditions, Baron
de Cartier, the Belgian Ambassador.
declared today in presenting the Eel
gian debt commissioners TO the Amer
ican commission
Replying. Secretary Mellon, chair
man Of the American commission,
said the United States would not ask
Belgium TO do the impossible, but
that the funding of the debt would be
a recognition of the integrity of in
ternantional obligations and the set
tlement of question which might
disturb the long friendship Of our
two nations"
The exchanges took place at the
first meeting of the two commissions
which will attempt to work out a
formula for settlement of the debt.
Hopes to Pay All.
Ambassadors de Cartier said the
adoption and normal functioning OF
the Dawes plan, although il would
give TO Belgium only a small share
of what we are entitled to-" and the
gradual curtailment of government
expenditures gave Belgium reason
to hope that she would succeed IN
her persevering efforts to place her
finances on a sound basis.
Belgium would have taken up ear
Tier with the United States the fund
ing of her debt, she contended, but
for the non-fulhllment of many sol
emn pledges given to her people dur
ing the war"
The situation so created he add
ed. was made even more critical by
the fact that, during the four years
Of occupation, Belgium was forced to
pay Germany, under the form of war
levies in cash, and as a result of the
imposed use of German currency. a
tribute which now amounts to a loss
of nearly $4,000. 100000
Cites Nature of Debt.
You are also aware Of the sums
which we had to spend to rebuild our
devastated regions and to restore our
wantonly destroyed factories"
Calling attention that crushing
postwar taxes" had been levied upon
the Belgian people, the Ambassador
said that, relying on the sence of jus
tice of which the American Nation
had given them so many proofs. the
Belgian people sought funding of the
debt inspired by the recollection of
the nature and history of our debts.
as we'll as by the just comprehension
of our economic and financial Difficult
ties created by an unjust war, OF
which we were the innocent victims.
Secretary Mellon in his reply said
Belgians could rest assured that their
position will have the most sympa-
thetic and friendly consideration by
our commission"
Mellon Pledges Fairness.
THE funding of your debt to us
within your capacity TO pay" he added,
means far more than the mere pay
ment by you and the receipt by us
of a certain number of dollars each
year. 1t is a recognition of the in
tegrity of international obligations and
| the settlement of a question which
might disturb the long friendship OF
our two nations. To accomplish these
results is worthy or our every effort.
1.-The question before US is of narrow
compass. There are but two parties
to our negotiation. Politics. local or
international. are not in involved. We
sit here reasonable men around g.
table. Under such conditions we will
soon learn each others viewpoints, de-
termine the true facts governing the
situation, and should reach an agree
| ment fair to your country and ours.