Evening star., 1926-03-29
ROBINSON ATTACKS
ITALIAN DEBT PACT
Declares Settlement Un-
sound, With Peace of Eu-
rope Threatened.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Declaring that 1.-The capacity to
pav," the standard which members of
the American War Debt Commission
say has been established for the set
tlement of debts due the United
States. is Objectionable in principle
and unsound. Senator Robinson of
Arkansas, Democratic leader in the
Senate, today assailed the italian debt
settlement.
Senator Robinson suggested that
the United States ascertain the atti-
tude of Italy toward the proposed dis
armament conference before the debt
settlement is ratified.
1T is idle to talk about economic
stabilization when political revolution
is threatened" he declared. "A fun
damental fallacy in the foreign pol
icy of the administration is disclosed
in the effort to convince the public
that business stability of Europe may
be entirely separated from political
security-political stability. We read
in the press of alliances, secret and
open; that the dictator of Italy is
forming combinations which threaten
the peace of Europe, and we are told
that all this is none of our business.
U. S. Criticized as Greedy.
THE United States is invited to a
disarmament conference to be held in
the early future. We will attend that
conference under a cloud Our dele
gates will be criticized as the repre-
sentatives of an avaricious and greedy
power Indifferent to the peace and
progress of mankind"
Senator Robinson said that the
statement has been made that the
passage of the Italian debt bill would
have a wholesome effect on America S
foreign relations and tend to stabilize
Italian currency and reconstruct
Italian industry.
1T would be helpful if the Senate
could know more about the effect
which this settlement will have on
the rehabilitation of European busi-
ness" said Senator Robinson.
The Democratic leader said that it
was not clear that the immediate
ratification of this settlement will pro-
mote either political or economic sta
bility in Europe.
Urges Disarmament Inquiry.
ut would seem the wise course
to inquire into this subject" continued
Senator Robinson. Our people would
much more approve of the cancella-
ton of three-fourths of the Italian
debt if the effectiveness of the disarm.
ament conference is demonstrated and
the peace of the world thereby safe.
guarded. For the execution of this
settlement and of all others that have
been effected and that may be here
after made depends in large part up
on the disposition of the debtor ma
tions to keep the peace"
With reference to the "capacitv IN
pay standard of collecting the debts
or European nations to this country.
Senator Robinson said, it gave rise tn
the criticism that the people of Amer
lea are avaricious. 1t seems to show
that this criticism was founded in
fact. Senator Robinson said that
capacity to pay, when applied to n
period of 81 years, is impossible of
aScertalnment. The British govern.
ment, he said. had been wise enough
In funding 1taly's debt to announce
that the British government recop.
nized also other considerations. in
eluding international goodwin and
friendship.
The Debt Commission apparently
derives from the Secretary of the
treasury, Mr.. Mellon, the thought
that capacity to pay should be made
the basis of all settlements" said
Senator Robinson.
Good Will Threatened.
1t is not only a false and unre-
liable standard, but it gives credence
to the claim that the people of the
United States have lost sight of those
finer considerations which prompted
us to make the advances. We have
sacrificed our reputation throughout
the world for generosity and liberality
and have received no consideration of
value in place of it,"
Senator Robinson insisted that
whatever may be it's justification the
true meaning of the Italian settle
ment Is that the United States is can.
ceiling almost three-fourths of the
Italian debt. He said that Secretary
Mellon had admitted that the United
States was canceling a part Of the
debt.
But by some strange mental
process" continued Senator Robinson.
Continued on Page 2. Column 81