Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-29
Columbia Economists Start
Frank Talk About War Debts

American standard of wages and iiv-
ing; In short, put ourselves out OF
commission economically in order to
get the friendship which thus far We
have been unable to buy with the saw
ing spirit and split blood of American
soldiers, and with billions OF money
loaned or freely given in relief and
charitable workT'
+++%
while It specifically disavows any
thought OF interfering with the cur.
rent operations OF the Dawes plan or
with present negotiations" observes
the New York Evening World Qnde-
pendent Democratic). ats effect Will
probably be to increase the difficulties
of Premier Poincare in securing q
ratification of the Mellon-Berenger
agreement. It will be used by the
foes Of ratification in France as evil
dence Of the possibility of getting
something better. It may be criticized
as untimely on that account. The
memorandum does, however, deal
frankly with facts. 1t attacks the Ca
pacity to pay basis Of settlement
which must necessarily call for rey!
sions as this capacity changes in the
various debtor nations in the course OF
y
one of the principal reasons for the
ever increasing disapproval of the
United States in Europe. Thus we
have a dispassionate statement of GER
tain unacceptable facts tending to jus-
tify the call for reconsideration"
I'm the last analysis this matter
comes down to a question Of policy"
declares the Brooklyn Daily Eagle lin
dependent Democrattc), which believes
1t cannot be denied that an increas-
ing body of opinion in America feels
that justice has not been done; that
we have not pursued the course best
calculated to advance our own inter
ests or to promote peace and better
international relations. For this body
Of opinion" continues the Eagle, the
Columbia professors make out strong
case. In the long run such q recon
sideration of war debts as they pro-
posed must come about"
The Roanoke World News Qndepsnd.
ent Democratic) also holds that the
time will come when the country win
see that the Columbia economists are
right in their views, and that for this
country's own safety and prosperity,
it would be wise to reconsider the debt
question in the light Of all the facts.
and from larger viewpoint than has
as yet been brought to bear"
The consensus Of AZ members Of the
faculty Of political science Of Column.
bia University" in the opinion Of the
Worcester Gazette independently, "em-
phasizes the present unsettled and uri-
satisfactory state Of the several debt
negotiations. And It adds very con-
siderable academic prestige to the side
Of those who feel that the problem has
not yet been solved satisfactorily.
There are many angles from which
even those most nearly satisfied by
the attempted solutions can see points
of legitimate attack. For example,
why should we compel Great Britain
to pay more proportionately than
France? Perhaps we should, but per.
haps we shouldn't. The Columbia fac
ulty members want to see the whole
tional conference. That is, at least.
worth thinking over"
r r =
''The Columbia professors have com
mitted the unforgivable sin Of dis
cussing the debt situation frankly"
remarks the Baltimore Evening Sun
independently. while the Milwaukee
Journal independently, declaring that
trade barriers are placed against Eu-
ropean products, asks. What is the
good Of revising settlement from ~
per cent to 80 per cent. or even 80
per cent, while the fundamental condi-
ton remains that makes It hard for 4
one nation to live at all. while another
rolls in luxury?" The Utica Observer
independently concludes that
lit is extremely unlikely that the
manifesto will have any immediate
Hz.~A
merely expresses what almost every
informed student Of the debt question
believes % b sooner o. iats1 . nsoss'
tty,.