New Britain herald., 1925-08-10
Replying to Baron De Cartier's Statement. Sec. Mellon Says U. 5. Will Not Ask The Impossible.
Ambassador Explains De- lay Has Been Occasioned by Rebuilding Costs and Crushing Taxes
By The Associated Press.

By The Associated Press,
 Washington, Aug. 10-BeIri,,m VIII honor all her obligations but VIII ask its debtors to take into con- slderation exceptional war and post war conditions, Baron De Cartier the Belgian ambassador. declared to. day in presenting the Belgian deht commissioners to the American com mission
 Mellon Replies.
 Replying, Secretary Mellon. chair. man Of the American commission. said the United States would not ask Belgium to do the impossible. hut that the funding of the debt wopId be a recognition of the integrity of international obligations and the
 settlement of question which might disturb the long friendship of our nations"
 The exchange took place at the first meeting of the two commits eions' which will attempt to work out formula for settlement of the debt.
 Has Reason To Hope.
 Ambassador De Cartier said the adoption and normal functioning of the Dawes plan, although 1t would give to Belgium 'only a small share or what we are entitled to-" and the gradual curtailment of government expenditures. gave Belgium reason 10 hope that she would succeed fin her perseverins efforts 10 place her nnances on a sound basis.
 Belgium would have taken lin earlier with the United States the funding of her debt, he continued but for the non-fultilmcnt of many solemn pledges given to her people during the wsr" ,.
 situation Critical.
 The situation so created" he added, was made even more cri,j. cal by the fact that during ro1r years of occupation Belglnm was forced to pay Germany, under tl, form of war levics in cash and as result of the imposed use of German currency a tribute which row amounts to a loss of hearly s2,8Ot,- COG, ,000.
 You are also aware 0: the sums which We had to spend 10 rebuild our devastated regions and to re- store our wantonly destroyed fac tories"
 Calling attention that "crushins postwar taxes" had been levied on the Belgian people, the ambassador said that relying on the sense 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 or the nature and history of our debts, as well as by the just com rrehenston of our economic and f. nancial difficulties created by an unjust war of which we were the in- nocent victims"
 Sympathetic Considerations
 Secretary Mellon. in his rerly. said Belgians could rest assured that their position will have ths most and friendly considera- ton by our commission"
 The funding of your debt to us within our capacity 10 pay" he add ed, means far more than the mere payment by you and the receipt by us of certain number of dollars each year. It is recognition of the of international obligations and the settlement of a question which might disturb the long friend ship of our two nations. To accom- plish these results is worthy of orr every effort.
 Politics Not Involved
 "The question before us is of mar. row compass. There are but two parties to our negotiations. Politics, local or international is not involved. We sit here reasonable men, around table. Under such conditions. Ve soon will learn each others view points, determine the true facts gov erntng the situation, and should reach an agreement fair to your country and ours"