Evening star., 1926-04-23
BERENGER SUBMITS
FORMAL PROPOSAL
FOR DEBT PAYMENT
American Commission Takes
Offer Under Amusement.
Early Decision Forecast.
MEETING ON QUESTION
CALLED FOR TOMORROW
Safeguard" Clause Still Looked
Upon in Paris as Absolutely
Necessary to Accord.

France today submitted a new offer
for the settlement of it's 81 ,000, 900, 900
war debt.
The proposition was taken under ad-
visement by the American Debt Com
mission until tomorrow, when it will
meet again.
Ambassador Berenger, who has been
given full power by France to nego-
tiate with this country, appeared be-
fore the commission at the meeting
today to present the French offer
He was before the commission less
than 80 minutes. His statement was
made entirely in French, and he left
with the commission English transa-
tions of the complicated new settle
ment proposed.
The groundwork for the offer had
been carefully canvassed in recent
conferences between the Amba s9ador
and Secretary Mellon. and it was lndl-
Gated that the commission would not
be long in making its decision.
SmoOt Denies Accord.
Denial that there has been any
agreement reached for the settlement
of the French debt along the lines
indicated by newspaper reports dur
ing the past few days was made I'm
the Senate today by Senator Smoot.
chairman of the finance committee
and a member of the American Debt
Commission
The question was brought up by
Senator Harrison. Democrat. of Mis-
sisSippi. while the Senate was waiting
for debate to begin on the motion of
Senator Reed of Missouri for recon
sideration of the vote by which the
oh ,,f
In view of what the papers are
printing" said Senator Harrison.
The Senator from Utah might tell
us what settlement is being reached
with France"
Senator Harrison said that during
the debate on the Italian settlement,
the argument was made that if the
Senate did not accept the proposal
offered the United States might not
get anything He. then recalled that
although THIS country was unable to
reach an agreement with France on
its debt. some time ago. that press
reports now indicate that a new offer
is being made by France.
Says Offer Was Made Today.
Senator Smooth replied that none
of the information that has been car
ried in the press during the past
week has come from any member
of the American Debt Commission.
He then informed the Senate that
the Debt Commission held a brief
meeting this morning, at which the
French Ambassador presented a
proposition. Senator Smoot said he
had not had time since the meeting
even to read the proposal and there
fore did not know the details, but
that there would be another meeting
tomorrow.
II can say to the Senator" Senator
Smoot continued, that there has been
no tentative agreement"
81 was wondering If that was the
way the Italian settlement was put
oVer-that one man worked it ont
and the others on the Debt Commits
sion agreed to it," said Senator
Harrison.
Senator Smoot again asserted that
no agreement has been reached with
France; that the proposition was only
put before the commission today, and
that the commission will decide what
the settlement is to be.
Premier BRAND informed the for
eign affairs committee of the French
Senate on Wednesday that an agree
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