Evening star., 1926-06-02
FRENCH DEBT PACT
0. K. IS FORECAST IN
HOUSE VOTE TODAY
Ratification Is Expected Be.
fore NightfaI| as Debate
NearS End.
RATIFICATION IN FRANCE
NOW is HELD DOUBTFUL
Action at Present Would Mean De
feat and Fall of BRAND, OBJ
servers Believe.
BY the Associated Press


BY the Associated Press.
The House approached final vote
on the French war debt settlement TO-
day. with leaders conceding that rati-
fication was virtually assured before
nightfall.
What the prospects are for the
agreement in the Senate. however,
was a harder question for them to
answer. A hard fight there is GER
tain.
Converting at II am, an hour
earlier than usual. debate was begun
practically where it was left off yes
terday, proponents Of the plan gen
orally reverting to Frances S capacity
to pay and her aid to America in the
Revolution, while those in opposition
! hased their arguments on the plea
that it was too lenient and was unfair
to the American taxpayers.
House Meets Earlier.
The House was called upon to meet
an hour earlier than usual today to
expedite action on the French debt
settlement. Leaders were prepared to
bring it to a vote before adjournment
tonight so 1t may be hurried to the
Senate. where vigorous fight against
ratification is in prospect.
Ratification of the 1854, ,S14 900
funding agreement by the House was
generally conceded. Nevertheless. op-
pone nts put up stiff fight when 1t
vas brought before the chamber yes
terday and We're able to force action
over until today.
Strongly hacked by the administra
ton forces. the pact provides for pay
nent of the total amount. which in
cludes interest. in g. annual install
ments. graduating upward from two
initial payments Of $50, ,000, 900. Rati
fication before Congress adjourns is
desired by administration officials as
Q means Of aiding In the stabilization
Of French fiscal affairs.
Two Assail Argument
Representatives Coiner Of Missis-
sippi and Rainey of Illinois. Demo
cratic members OF the ways and means
committee. took the lead In opposing
ratification by the House, contending
that the terms did not represent
Frances capacity TO pay. and that the
pact. as the former phra it. was
"disgraceful attempt to settle an hon
est debt at so cents on the dollar"
Representative Lozier. Democrat. Mis-
souri,. thought the trouble with France
was mot its ability, out its willing
ness to pay"
Chairman Green OF the ways and
means committee. on the other hand,
Insisted that the agreement was as
favorable to the United States as was
possible at this time and argued that
the French people were taxed now to
the limit. He was supported by Rep
resentative Burton. Republican. Ohio,
a member Of the Debt Commission.
and Representative Mills. Republican.
New York, while Representative An
drew, Republican, Massachusetts,, who
has favored more liberal treatment Of
the debt, described the agreement as
very good bargain with distress
ed and bankrupt debtor"
Few Hear Early Debate.
When Representative Dickinson.
Democrat. Missouri. the first speaker
took the floor today only 81 Of the
AIS members were in their seats to
hear him indorse the settlement
Representative Wainwright, Repub-
lcan. New York. said he was not
concerned about the agreement being
too liberal. but whether it was liberal
enough. contending that sympathy and
sentiment tor France should be con-
sidered.
IF it were a business proposition
only" he said, the loans would never
have been made at the time they
were"
Opposing the agreement. Represent
ative Hastings. Democrat. Oklahoma.
said he did not impugn the motives
but questioned the judgment of the
American Debt Commission, and CON
tended that France should pay about
$4,000. 100000 more than the settle
ment would provide.
Representative Schafer, Republican,
Wisconsin, also assailed the agree
ment as too lenient, asserting that the
devastated regions of France were re-
cuperating and that France has a
greater capacity to pay than the
settlement would indicate.
Representative Gibson. Republican
Vermont. defending the agreement
recalled the aid France had given the
Revolution. The settlement was also
upheld by Representative Crisp. Demo
Crat. Georgia. He said 1t was the
best arrangement that could have
been made.
After Representative Hill. Republi-
can, Maryland. indorsed the agree.
ment, Representative Berger. Socialist.
Wisconsin, opposed II. Mr.. Berger
contended that France was the most
prosperous country in Europe.
PACT MAY BEAT BRAND.