Evening star., 1925-10-04
MEDIOCRE WORK
ON DEBT IS seen
Andre Tardjeu Thinks French
Lacked Technique and
U. S. Frankness.
BY ANDRE TARDIEU.
Former French High Commissioner to
tho United States.

BY Radio to The Star.
PARIS, October 3. - Thinking
F>renchmen cannot take, seriously for
a moment the temporary five-year set
Element at Washington Of the Franco
American debt problem. Opinion here
is that the French delegates would
have done better to refuse the plan
Immediately. for certainly 1t cannot be
doubted that Parliament will reject II
il 1t ia presented there. Settlement.
yes-postponement for five years, no.
The only advantage for France in
any debt settlement is in having 1t
final and in letting the French people
know, once for all, exactly where they
stand. How often did the American
and British say concerning Germanys
debts: Germany cannot be asked to
pay before the total Indebtedness is
fixed" Fairness requires that tho
same principle be applied to France.
Bewildered BY Bargaining.
French public opinion has followed
with some bewilderment tho bargain
tho French and American commits
sions. What was particularly dimcult
for 1t to comprehend was the compli-
eating OF the affair by making several
separate questions; First, annuities;
second, intere4t, and third. morato-
rum. 1t Is difficult for people hero to
SEQ what was gained by this method.
Fridays news that the whole edifice
had collapsed like a house Of cards
only added to tho confusion reigning
in French minds. To understand how
the French people feel ono mead only
| think back to Americas feeling in
1921. when tho Paris and London
conferences fixed 4 similar schedule Of
payments for Germany for a period
of three-Quarters of 2 century.
Tho whole negotiation at Washing
the French mission with a notable
neglect OF the best arguments. At no
time were the Americans reminded
that this financial problem Is prima-
riIy a political problem. At no time
were they reminded (these IA points,
| the armistice agreement, and the let
| ter of Secretary GLASS; that at the
| moment the debts were contracted
Americans were unanimously agreed
that France should not pay a sou for
reparations or pensions.
Frank Reduction.
based on Americas changed policy
would have been franker, moro log
ical and more diEnif1ed than all those
mysterious, haphazard concessions
| which Amesicans agreed to during
tho weeks debates.
From . technical viewpoint the
French impression Is equally bad.
Tho So called safeguard clauss-per-
hitting revision Of the agreement ac-
corded to Frances capacity to pay
! was neither atudied nor Worded care
1 a.. Hny q
| fonE a. nothing was said about the
problems Of tfansfers, which has
dominated the whole German indem-
nifty question for ave years.
Tho question is not solely ono Of
! ngures, but also Of means of pay
ment. Germany, If she executes tho
/ Dawes plan. viii pay In goods or
marks. not dollars. On the contrary,
the United States Treasury demands
from France payment In dollars e1-
clusively, since American protection
ism rsfusss payment in kind. Thus
Frances burden increased with a
thousand evil effects on her general
economy, since she must buy dollars
to the dstriment of her exchange for
81 years.
Nobody would have agreed to apply
such a plan to Germany. Why mag.
inc that France can accept It?
Mediocre Handling.
Those who have studied the prob
lem-they are not numerous either In
France or the United States-cannot
escape the conclusion that the whole
negotiation WAS carried on in worse
than mediocre fashion. That the very
subject Of the debate was i'll prepared
IL shown by the Bank Of France loan
incident and the unpaid interest af-
fair. ThA Frsnoh delegates lacked
both dsa& ana Technique. Ahe. per-
hapa. they lacked neral authority. At
no time did thinking Frsnchnen ret
tho impression that the French dele
gates were saying what they ought
to say at WAshington.
Obviously 1t is not the fault of the
United States IL France chose poor
spokesman. But since after a weak
of miserable bargaining France gets
nothing but a temporary agreement,
which IL manifestly unacceptable
Frenchmen are entitled to express the
hope that the next time the matter is
dieousssd 1t will b under nnora faver-
able conditionA ea . broadar basis
and nv SvaNsnA