Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-03-02
BURTON DEFENDS
ITALIAN DEBT PACT
Replying to Critics, Senator
SAYS No Other Adjustment
Was Possible.

~Aroused'' over criticism OF the
debt settlement with Italy, Represent
ative Burton. Republican, of Ohio, a
member of the American Debt Com
mission which negotiated the agree
ment. yesterday declared 1t was
question Of getting these amounts
or getting nothing at all"
Marshaling an array OF hgures
and revealing some of the heretofore
secret documents laid before the AInerl-
can commission by the Italian com
mission Mr.. Burton told the WASH
ington Study at Rauscher's that the
Italian settlement, whether CONSIDERED
from the basis of international COM
ity or sound business principles, was
a good settlement"
He predicted that all debt settle.
ments, with the possible exception OF
two, which had been approved by the
House would be approved also by the
Senate In his opinion there was
some doubt now about the accordS
with Belgium, and especially with
Italy, receiving the O. X. OF the Sen
ate.
Settlement Equitable. He Says.
The settlement with Italy, Mr.. Bur
ton averred. was equitable from both
ccorde- "a any debtor of this coun-
try. 1t had been reached by the
American commission, consisting of
both Republicans and Democrats, 1t
was pointed out, but the commission
had laid aside party lines and had
acted as a unit by unanimous vote.
DO we want to put a ring around
the neck of Italy?" asked Mr.. Burton,
80 she can't buy anything from us
and perhaps permit some of her peo-
pie to StarVe?"
What does a creditor do when he
is dealing with a bankrupt" said Mr..
Burton. He settles for cents or
10 cents or 20 cents on the dollar"
Dec.arIng that the American COM
mission had negotiated tho settlement
On the basis of the economic capacity
# Italy to pay, Mr.. Burton quoted
'Xtens,vely from figures to show tn
ow capacity of Italy. The average
nnuA earnings per capita, including
man, woman and child, in Ita Y, he
said. was $l0l, as compared to SOFA in
The United States.
TOta' Natural Resources.
The total natural resources of the
1ebtor country, he said, could be cal
ulated AT only 500 900 600, which he
hat from Great Britain. The total
output of iron in Italy for one recent
year. he said. was 81 900 tons, or less
than enough to supply two of the
blast furnaces in Cleveland for a
year. The balance of trade was
against Italy. it was pointed out. by
from 5000 600 600 to $3.50 Ooo n0N 18th
he United States alone sending $780,.
100000 annually to Italy and Is.
ing therefrom only 1907 900 pO0
ANY one who could sit for three
weeks, as we did. and listen to the
recital of Italy's case and rhnn d.
mand that this country exact its
pound Of flesh in collecting thu deb.
would be a different tvpa OF man fr~,N
our ordinary American citizen" de-
Clared MIR. Burton. do we want our
reputation throughout the world to be
hat of a Shvlock, or shall our coun-
Try be fair and generous, so that all
our relations with other countries
shall ha bound up with friendship and
good will?"
AS matter of fact, said Mr.. Burton,
unless the economic condition of Eu-
rope improved within the next few
years, some Of the debtors of America
might not be able to paw their debts
under terms Of agreements already
negotiated.