Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-28
COOIIDCE PUSHES HIS DEMAND
FOR ITALIAN DEBT SETTLEMENT
Expects Senate to Follow Example OF House in APP
proving Agreement-knows
Foes Plans.

than the adoption Of the World Court
resolution. He was represented by
this authority as looking upon the
ratification of this plan rs being OF
tremendous economic value. In his
opinion. 1t means more to the people,
individually, of this country than does
the idea of American adherence to the
World Court. His theory is that the
latter holds out promise of great In
ternational understa nding and better
ment, but the settlement of this debt
question means immediate results, not
only of a material nature but a moral
and economic nature as well.
The President readily admits that
Italy is being beautifully and literally
treated according to the plan of set
Element agreed upon. He feels, how
ever, that the plan was worked out
strictly in accordance with Italy's ca
pacity to pay and that the terms are
the best that could be expected under
all the circumstances involved. He
feels also that the annual payments,
while smaller than many persons in
this country would like to see, are
better than nothing, and besides, this
money can be readily used now that
the normal revenues of the Nation
are being reduced by the huge slash
in taxes provided in the revenue bill.
Moreover, the President is convinced
that ratification of this settlement
plan will have a wonderful effect upon
the economic stability not only OF
Italy but other nations of Europe.
Italy May Drop Matter.
In issuing his defiance to those SEN
ators who are trying to stir up an or
ganized opposition to the settlement.
President Coolidge has reminded them
that if this plan is now rejected, II
would not be surprising If Italy would
fail to make any further attempts at
req ching an agreement in which event
the United States would receive moth
ing III return for its loans. In his
opinion, such a course on the part or
the Italian government would not be
surprising or unnatural. lie argues
that rejectment on the part of the
Senate. after the United States Debt
Funding Commission had agreed to
the settlement, the Executive himself
has approved 1t and the House of Rep
resentatives by nearly a 2-to-1 vote
had sanctioned 1t. could not help but
be confusing and disconcerting to the
Italians. In other words, 1t would
seem highly strange to the Italian
government that one branch of the
American Legislature alone could be
the means of defeating this settlement
plan, after the Executive and the
House Of Representatives had APP
proved it.
The President has made no secret
of the fact that he had hoped that
this matter would have easy sailing
| in the Senate. lust as was the case In
the House. He had anticipated bi
partisan arrangement for its ratifica
ton. However. the President. while
! keenly alive to the situation in the
Senate. is fully confident that the OPP
position will fall short of defeating
! the plan. He has reason to know that
| efforts thus far to make party issue
! of the settlement plan have failed sc
| far and that careful count of noses
| indicates that there are sufficient Re
publican and Democratic votes to as
sure ratification when the time comes
| for a show down.
1t is the Coolidge custom to view a
problem or an issue from every angie
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