Evening star., 1925-07-26
WILL RECALL PLEDGE.
Belgium to Cite Agreement to Make
Germany Pay.

BY Cable to The Star and New York World
BRUSSELS, July 25.-Belgium sign.
ed the treaty of Versailles on an agree
ment in writing by Woodrow Wilson
and David Lloyd George that Ger
many would have to pay back to Bel
gums creditors all money borrowed
to carry on the war, the Belgium
debt-funding commission which goes
to Washington the end of July will
explain, but Belgium does not hold the
United States to the agreement, be
cause Congress refused to ratify the
treaty of Versailles. It will be a po
lite gesture. designed to recall to the
American people their failure to take
responsibility for the acts Of their
agents.
The commission will declare itself
ready to negotiate terms of payment
but it will not permit Washington 10
forget for a moment that Belgium
considers itself carrying out an act of
honor, because ii put its signature to
paper, but really considers Wash.
ington has not recognized its own re-
ed Belgium to pay.
Hymans Outlines Plans.
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs
Hymans, who represented Belgium at
the peace conference, has outlined the
Belgian position.
He indicated Belgium would not
for an instant. attempt to deny that II
owed legally, but said Belgium would
not have signed the peace treaty un-
less IT had been agreed Germany
should repay to Belgium all money
Belgium was obliged to borrow during
the war. as a penalty upon Germany
for violating Belgium's neutrality, and
that, in fact, Belgium did not agree to
sign the teaty of Versailles until vii.
son, Lloyd George and Clemenceau, in
the last days of the treaty framing
agreed Belgium not only should have
priority on reparations, but should
also have its debts paid. The debt
funding commission will be charged
to give the following analysis OF the
Belgian position, which Hymans pre-
sented before the Chamber of Depu
ties.
Belgium, as represented by Hynlans
refused TO sign the treaty of Yer
sailles, after lively debate, until 1t was
agreed Belgium was to have two
prfvileges-priority on $2,5oo, ,00o. .00C
in reparations and a pledge that Ger
many be obliged. by special payment
to pay Belgian war debts, because they
were caused by Germany's act in dis
regarding the Belgian neutrality.
Says Three Signed.
If the big three-the United States
Great Britain and France-had not
agreed, Hymans said he could only
refer the treaty to the Belgian Parlia
ment. To satisfy him at once, the
big three signed letters formally grant
ing both concessions, which Hymans
appended when he sent the treaty tc
Brussels for ratification,
The United States, by failing tC
ratify the treaty, made Wilson's agree
ments void. but the Belgian commits
sion will be under instructions to pre-
sent to Washington the following
view, expressed by Hymans in the
Belgian Parliament:
mo doubt the treaty of Versailles
had to be ratified by the parliaments
and no doubt the letters Of June IS
1919, signed by Lloyd George, Wilson
and Clemenceau were mere promises
but these plenipotentiaries had full
powers, and who could imagine thai
Wilson, who had engaged the wore
Of his people could be denied and dis
avowed and his signature Cancelled?
See No Hope for Aid.
ANY way you take it, these are
the brutal facts; 1t Is not in our
power to change them. The United
States, in full sovereignty, refused tc
ratify the treaty of Versailles. They
negotiated a separate treaty with
Germany, and we cannot face them
either with the treaty of Versailles OF
the letter Wilson signed. But the
negotiations are going to begin ir
Washington, and, no doubt, they will
turn only on the means of payment.
1.-The nature and character of the
concessions made In 1919, and re
fused today, should be recalled to the
American people. In the tragic
hours, the American people gave proof
of greatness of soul and nobility. We
owe them much and do not forget 1t
1t is not in vain, am sure, that emf
nent plenipotentiaries are going tc
Washington to plead the Belgian cause
and they will invoke justice and public
integrity"
vandervelde. the present foreign
minister, accepted Hyman's position
in the name Of the present govern
ment.
(Copyrirht lQo5)