Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-10-25
ITALIAN DEBT ENVOY BEARS
STRONG CONTRAST TO FRENCH
Vopi Without Personal Embarrassments and Com.
plicatons of Home Politics, as in
Caillaux's Case.

of finance. France could hardly have
intrusted her cause to a more un-
fortunate agent than the avowed can
didate for the premiership of the
Republic. Only Mr.. Herriot. who was
once mentioned for the task, could
have been less of a persona grata.
Beneath the official courtesy with
which Mr.. CaillauX was received was
always wonder at his astonishing
"come-b back" from exile and at his &C
cession to financial power, the latter,
dsspite his ability, inexplicable except
on the theory of any port in a
Storm Moreover, one felt through
out his negotiations the spirit of bar
gaining. a certain lack of dignity
dignity that may persist even at a
debtors bar. BY other hands France
may yet obtain terms more com
mensuraU with her unforgotten
sacrifices.
Count Nolpi. likewise his country's
minister of finance and with an
equally free hand, is coming in a
different spirit and with no personal
embarra ssments. He will not be on
the defensive as TO his past nor under
suspicion as TO his future. With as
great reputation as a fiscal expert
as that of Mr.. CaillauX. he will pre-
sent Italy'S case in a more practical
fashion and probably with a greater
mastery of its economic aspects. His
country'S ability to discharge her war
time obligations is likely to be his
sole thesis.
But the note which 1t may not be
expedient for him to strike, it is not
forbidden for an American friend of
Italy to sound, for it is the keynote
of all thu consideration that may be
shown to her. BY this L mean her
immense, but even yet unapprehend-
ed. contribution to the cause of the
allies. Without detraction from what
was done by others, 1t is now both
timely and appropriate to recall Italy s
! instructive refusal to join in the war
| upon France; her unsordid entry into
the conflict at crucial moment, when
| she might have realized all her just
ambitions by simply remaining neu-
| trail: the obstacles which she-alone of
the allies-had to overcome by reason
of the 40 years of subsoiling of her
| public opinion by German influences
+, the half preparedness of her resources
| for the war: the great extent of her
battle line, appreciably longer than
the whole Western front; the unique
and eXhausting character of her
! tration into the enemy's lines: her
| colossal victories after her one
| treacherous defeat: her relatively
! larger losses, and withal-and this is
! of special timelissness-the small ad
vantage she derived from the Yer
sailles treaty. Nothing can obscure
| these facts from the scrutiny of his
| tory, and they may well be considered
! in the settlement of her never iSput
ed financial obligations To us. for they
! constitute a moral obligation on oui
| part to her that cannot be measured
| in money.
! How have we repaid our debt tC
| her for holding the right of the line
| of civilization? We have retarded hel
recovery by cutting off her exports OF
/ citrous products and wines, and BY
reducing. beyond the limits of oui
prudence, her assets of human labor
The least we can do is, by the term.
we offer or accept, to make it moi
merely possible, but comparativel,
easy, for her to take that distinguish
ed place among the nations to which
her aroused national consciousness 81
auspiciously points.