Evening star., 1926-08-31
WORLD WAR CHIEFS
MAY ASK DEBT CUT.
CIemenceau and Baker
Stands May Lead Others
to Seek Revision.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Paralleling the famous letter from
FORMER Premier tiCmenceau, the APP
peal of Newton u. Baker, Secretary
of War under the Wilson administra-
ton. for a mutual cancellation Of war
debts has started Il movement which
may IN the end place the principal
figures in the actual conduct of the
war on record as in favor of complete
revision of the financial obligations
incurred during the World War.
Just as NJ. Clemenceau urges a re-
turn to the mood of idealism, in which
the war was fought, so does Mr..
Baker. striking the same note, con-
tend that present day materialism has
gone too far. The issue is not going
to be political, for, while Newton Ba<-
err repro sentS the liberal wing of the
Democratic party, there are among
the Democratic Senator'S many who
are absolutely opposed to any fur
ther reduction in war debts.
The Republican party is also split
on this point, for among the leaders
In the East are several who would
like to cancel the war debts. but who
are afraid Of Western Republicans
whose general unfriendliness to Eu-
rope has on more than one occasion
been expressed by men like Senator
Borah of Idaho.
May Cause Delay i'm Europe.
Tho true significance of Mr.. Rak
er'S letter is not that il will line up
Democrats against Depublicans on an
issue of cancellation. President cool
idge is reported as having indicated
that he would welcome an issue OF
this kind, but this viewpoint is not
credited here as an accurate reflection
of the administration s desire
The spectacle Of two political
parties fighting over the question of
whether the debts shall be partly
Cancelled, as they have been by the
Coolidge administration already, or
whether they shall he wholly can.
ccled is not going to be regarded by
Europ" as encouragement for pay
mont of anything until the debate is
concluded. The desire of the admin
fstration for several years has been
that a united front shall be present.
ed 10 Europe. The World War Debt
Funding Commission was composed
of Democrats as we'll as Republicans
and all the agreements which have
been approved by Congress thus far
have received an overwhelming num-
ber OF Domocratic as we'll as Repub
iican votes.
The question is really an economic
ana not political controversy.
Some Of the Republicans have been
afraid to face the issue of cancella-
ton because Of Il belief that the Dem
Ocrats might take the other side Mr.
Bakers letter is evidence that the
Wilson wing Of the Democratic party
will stand by the Republican party
whenever the circumstances require
a further scaling down of war debts
The Italian debt. for instance, has
been Cancelled by 50 per cent. TIL
French debt has bean Cancelled nv
80 per cent and the British debt has
been cut down 26 per cent. The
principle Of cancellation has been ac-
cepted by the American Government
and the only question that has been
unsettled is Whe her the amount of
cancellation granted has been just.
Business Factors Control.
There is n school Of thought led by
Secretary Mellon which would not
hesitate TO recommend revision
downward in the amount of all war
debts the moment it became apparent
that it was good business for the