Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-08-09
France Cannot Pay
Continued from Pace Onel

leading to promises Of payment, the
former premier declared, are impos-
sible of fulfillment because they
would result in a loan with solid Sc
curity in the shape Of our territorial
possessions, as was the case for
Turkey He warned President
Coolidge that France will never &C.
cept such a thing.
France is not for sale, even to her
friends" he said. independent she
came to us, independent we shall
leave her"
For once the "Tiger" has apparent
ly taken off the famous gray gloves
of his diplomacy. He tartly compar-
ed the separate peace treaty made by
the United States with Germany to
the separate treaty made by Russia
at Brest-Litovsk during the war;
Both were made, he charged, with
out 1.-The slightest attempt" to adjust
matters with their comrades in arms
AFTER making a blood peace with
the common enemy" he said, today
money peace is being devised with
the allied and associated powers"
M. Clemenceau entreated President
Coolidge not to consider the war
debts as purely cash transactions be-
tied by technical experts. Our att!-
tude, he said, has made France I'M
easy today lest the United States be
taking up the old time policy of Eng
land, of controlling Europe by pay
ing off one continental power
against another
NJ. Clemenceau's letter follows:
Mr.. President: Divergenes of opin-
ion have arisen before the three great
countries allied and associated in the
war in France as to settlement of &C
counts, which threaten to have Sc
rious effect on the future Of the civil
lied world.
ION each side technical experts in
finance are at work a technician is
too often a man whose pleasure con-
sists in isolating his own problem
from those which he is occupied in CO.
ordinating.
Everything in public affairs con-
tributes to form whole and anyone
who thinks he can isolate himself
in his own domain is running the risk
Of finding himself overwhelmed later
when it is too late to mend matters.
THE same question in identical
terms exists between the United
States and England, between England
and France, and between France and
the United States, and I see that trial
solutions for preparation of solutions
have not created a good state of feel
ing in the countries which are affected
1--WE are debtors, you are creditors.
1t seems this is regarded as purely a
matter for the cashiers department,
but are there no other considerations
to be taken into account?
Hitherto England's European poll
cy has consisted above all in holding
the continental nations in check by
intervening and playing off one against
the other. I am convinced that the
man in the street is beginning to open
his eyes to wider views. Today it is
towards America that Frances feeling
of uneasiness is principally predicted
eff nations were but business
houses, bankers accounts would settle |
the fate of the world. You are claim
ing from US payment Of debt not of |
commerce, but Of war. You know, as |
we do, that our treasury is empty. In |
such a case the debtor must sign prom
issory notes, and that is Just what you |
are asking us to do, and yet each of us |
ought to believe that settlement in
cash will be made on the day fixed.
Now, it is open secret that in
this affair there are only imaginary |
dates Of payment, which will lead UP
to loan with solid security in the |
shape of our territorial possessions, |
as was the case for Turkey. Such |
thing, Mr.. President, 1 am bound to |
tell you we shall never accept.
France is not for sale, even to her
friends. Independent she came to US;
independent we shall leave you. Ask
yourself whether, according to Presi-