Evening star., 1925-07-08
FRANCE PLANNING
TOPAy US. DEBT
Representative Watson Back
From Tour; Foresees Sat
factory Adjustment.

The masses of the people of France
are opposed to payment of the debt
10 the United States, but the men Of
| importance in the financial affairs and
stateSmanship of the country realize
| that 1t must he paid and they are
making their plans for settlement
that will be satisfactory 10 the Ameri.
can people, Representative Henry w.
Watson of I.anghorne. Pa. said to.
day upon his arrival in Washington
from trip that took him around the
world.
Mr.. Watson Ia here 10 confer with
oficlals of the Treasury and State De.
paftments regarding foreign problems.
He departed from Washington al ~the
close of the session Of Congress last
February and travelled through Eu.
rope. India. Korea. China. Japan and
the Philippines. H.s is a member OF
the House ways and means commit.
tee, and he Went abroad 10 come in
personal touch with political and eco.
nomic questions that are attracting
worldwide attention.
Says People Oppose Payment.
The French people are decidedly
opposed TO payment of the debt to the
United States. and the public men OF
the country realize this" said Nr.
Watson. Il discussed the sentiment
OF the populace with Myron r. Her
rick. our Ambassador at Paris. and
he is aware Of the difficulties that
confront the French statesmen. The
determination of the people not TO pa V
Ia apparent.
The boys and girls in the schools
are having 1t drilled into them that
no moral ohliga ton rests with the
French people to pay this country
and attention iA called TO the war con.
tracts that came to American manu-
facturers. The school children also
are impressed with the enormous
wealth of the United States. and are
told that France must resist attempts
or TINS country 10 bring about a settle
ment.
When ] spoke OF this propa ga nda
at gathering attended by French
| nd American citizens my remark,
| were challenged. An American pres
ent emphatically substantiated what
had said. He stated that his children
who are attending a Paris school. hal
been Influenced by such propa ga nda.
From what I learned first hand
I'm convinced that France is able Il
pay every dollar she owes us Every
where the country Ia prosperous
There is no unemployment to speak OF
in fact. France is going into Italy TO-
| mechanics. One hears in Paris the
suggestion that the French he allowed
! 100 wears to pay us. England wa.
given no such terms. and | do not be
lieNe II Will he necessary to grant tina
concession to France Amba ssa do,
! Herrick is representing our interest.
admirably He has the confidence ot
French financiers and statesmen.
Il observed that the World War
4 fzA
! and a desire among the masses for
more liberal laws and the republic
form OF government In India. for
| example. the people are noisy FOR in.
dependence. They are dems ndinc
the kind Of government Ca nada has.
Political Chaos In China.
I'm China there is political chaos.
The absence of anything even ap.
preaching national unity is every
where apparent. In Peking a Soviet
embassy has been established and
Russia is said to have expended large
sums of money in propa ga nda g among
the students. A strong feeling against
foreigners exists
II was repeatedly asked WHY the
United States does not take a more
determined stand in the protection
Of American interests. such as is
shown by Great Britain in behalf Of
her citizens
Il did not visit the war zone. as
foreigners are not permitted TO ira vel
there. From what ! was told of con.
ditions. | judge that 1t is not war. but
hs nditry. The faction in control OF
district simply robs the inha bite nj g,
The Imperial Palace in Peking wa g
looted. and | was informed that some
OF the loot. tapestry, urns and the
like, had been located in New York.