Evening star., 1926-04-29

An outstanding feature Of public
sentiment toward the Senate's ap-
proval of the Italian debt settlement
is Endorsement Of the idea that, not
withstanding criticisms Of Mussolini's
acts as dictator, he should be ignored
as a factor in this transaction. The
view is widely held that the arrange
ment is a fair one with the italian
people and that the terms were the
best to be obtained.
"It seems that the italian debt set
tiement.' remarks the Birmingham
News independent Democratic), was
ratified without breaking the blood
vessels of a single Senator. Those
who have followed the hot and bitter
arguments of Senator Reed and the
interminabie efforts Of Senator Harri-
son to propagate prejudice in the
minds Of the Senate are thankful that
reason and wisdom prevailed. The
main business was ratification OF
agreements entered into by the Ameri-
can Debt Commission and based on
what is regarded as Italy's power to
pay at the present time. The settle
ment involved return Of approximate.
ly two billion dollars at a relatively
small rate Of interest over a period of
SO years. AT the time Of settlement
it was regarded as q clever stroke of
business diplomacy by the Italian gov
ernment, and, at the same time. the
more conservative Americans were
constrained to believe with the Presi-
dent of the United States and Secre.
tary Mellon that in the matter Of in.
terest, at least, a half loaf was better
than no bread at all"
The Manchester Union 'findependent
Republican, expresses satisfaction that
another noteworthy chapter in the
record has been completed" and sug.
gests that, with Italy added to the
| list Of nations with which arrange
! mains only the French war debt as an
open account"
"The way seems clear for the
French settlement" according to the
Dayton Daily News independent
Democratic), land there is every indi-
cation that announc ement Of it's COM
pletion soon will be Forthcoming. This
| indication. together with the vote on
the italian settlement, brought help
full reaction in France, stopping the
depreciation Of the franc as no expe-
dent in French treasury financing
| mas DSen GDie 10 90. Inc OtlCa OO-
lserver.Dispatch independently adds
that "if France is to be rescued from
| financial chaos, she must fund her
! debts, balance her budgets and en-.
force her tax laws with strictness.'
1.-THE ratification Of the Italian debt
| pact and the hopeful prospects for
; reaching an accord with France on
| the refunding problem" says the
| Providence Journal independently,
"are good ornens for another i'm.
| portant advance in Europe For these
/ steps are expected to be the forerun.
| ners of the restoration OF the gold
| standard in those European countries
| that have not returned to It since the
| war" The declaration that SANITY
has prevailed" is made by the Pitts
burgh Sun Independent Demo
| cratic), which holds that "the one
| disagreeable part Of the debate was
| the criticism of the Mussolini admin
istration," for. it states. "the compo-
| sition of the italian government had
| nothing to do with the case" The
| Hartford Times independently gives
| its testimony also that "if the Coz
| ernment regards the settlement as
| in any sense an Endorsement Of Fas-
| cism and Mussolint. 1t Is not voicing
| the opinion of tb~ American people.
l So also the Jersey 0eY IArsey Jour-
nal independent MS1uSiican) con-
tends that beyond the dislike S-s