The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-04-13
OFFICIALS OF
US. OR France
MUST Be LYING
French Debt Settlement
Progress Denied

ANANi0t1 UViC ASAGy WV
the announcement In Paris by Raoul
Peret, the French finance minister,
that negotiations for the funding Of
Frances four billion dollar debt to
the United States "are proceeding sat
isfaetorlly, and an agreement will be
reached and signed In eight days"
There have been no recent negotia-
lions, and so far as American officials
are concerned the status OF the
French debt is Just about where 1t
was when Joseph Caillaux refused to
accept the debt funding commissions
minimum terms" and returned to
Paris last October Of1cials point out
that In an announcement yesterday
by Peret of his Intentions of going to
London for a conference on the Anglo
French debt, he referred to the nee
essity Of getting more complete de-
tails regarding the status of the
French debt negotiations with the
United States"
Too Previous, Says Winston.
NJ. Berenger, the French ambassa-
dor, has not even seen Secretary Mel
lon for a month. The treasury head
has been in Bermuda for three weeks,
and only yesterday returned to his
desk.
Treasury officials were incredulous
and amused at the Paris announce
ment. 81 should say that NJ. Peret
was a little previous, at least" dryly
observed Garrard B. Winston, under
secretary. Winston is also secretary
Of the debt funding commission.
"Bunk" Says Another.
81 can't imagine the reason for such
statement unless 1t is designed for
home consumption" commented an
other member Of the commission. 1--WE
have not been asked to consider any
thing bearing on the French debt for
months. Statements that the nego-
tiations are proceeding satisfactorily
and an agreement is at hand are so
much pure bunk"
At the treasury today it was stated
that no negotiations with the French
win be undertaken until the senate
has acted on the Italian settlement,
now pending.
S10,44o Expense Allowance.
Officials refused to comment on the
report from Paris of a secret "allow-
ance" to Henri Berenger, the French
ambassador here, of $40 .440 for "es-
penses" in connection with the adjust
ment Of the French debt.
To Go To London.
PARIS, April 11-Finance Minister
Peret has announced that he may go
to London next week to open nego-
tiations for the settlement Of the An
glo-French debt.
Perhaps l will go to London next
week, tho / am awaiting the result of
the American senate vote on the Ital-
ian debt" said NJ. Peret. 81 would
also like more complete details re-
garding the status of the French debt
negotiations with the United States
before entering definite agreements
with Great Britain"
It has been Peret's position that set
Element of the inter-allied debts must
precede all efforts to stabilize the
franc and that the most imperative
task is that of securing an accord
with England and the United States
regarding these debts.
Churchill Requested Visit.
Winston Churchill, chancellor OF the
British exchequer, has notified Peret
that the meeting must be arranged
before April 26, as he will then be in
terpellated in the commons on the
debt situation and must besides in
clude the subject in the budget speech
he has to deliver on that date. Two
French experts have already left to
confer with the British in the matter.
Aims at 5000 Slash.
Peret wants to revise the agreement
made last August by Caillaux. This
provided for annual payments by
France Of s62,5OO,O00. He will insist
that S30,00O,000 or less than half that
determined on by his predecessor is
all that France can pay. This sum
is about rs per cent less than what
United States secretary Of the treas
ury Mellon offered for the adjustment
OF the French debt to that country.
Poor, But Not for War.
While France is making these pow
er1y pleas to Great Britain and the
United States, she is spending, like
the other European countries, Inn
mense sums on military affairs. Thus
at the end Of last month there was
launched at the immense dry dock at
Toulon a 36-knot torpedo boat de-
stroyer, of $1,000 horse power, rated
as the worlds fastest warship. The
launching was secret. The vessel
was named "The Tiger"
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