New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1926-07-26
EUROPE'S ATTITUDE
TOWARD AMERICA

tails, especially Paris and London
! have lately been a source of sur
prise TO Americans. We learn tt
our mental discomfort that we have
, become the best-hated nation or
the globe, and all because We in
sist that our war debts, pared down
as they have been, should be paid
Attacks upon Americans in Paris
are induces OF the popular feeling.
We, who succored the allied cause,
preventing allied disaster and a
German victory, whose entry into
the war was received with out
bursts of JOY and renewed conf
dence in the ultimate outcome, now
find ourselves in the position the
Germans were between 1905 and
1914. We are regarded with suspi-
cion and distrust, Secretary Mellon
is pictured as the financial en-
peror" Of the world. President
Coolidge as Shylock. and the
American Senate as men who
would enslave a continent that a
mere debt of dollars might be paid.
This again is the story of the I'M
popular creditor, or the exacting
landlord. 1t is useless TO point out
that the European nations, sharp
ening the dagger points of anger
against us, have been loaded down
with valuable mandates and rich
colonies. These are not so readily
turned into money, and to the
present generation they mean
nothing in increased wealth. The
only thing they can see is the war
debts, and these, mountain high,
have beclouded their sight. They
point out that German reparations,
if really paid for 81 years, will for
the most part go TO the United
States, so that to Europe the
PREPARATIONS payments will mean
little increment. We are told that
Germany has been made TO pay,
after a fashion, but all the pay
eventually will go to America, leav-
ing the European victors of the
war impoverished instead of en-
riched.
The sad feature of the tanglo
seems to be that there is no other
way out of the mess than to grin
and bear it, Americans do not relish
some of the names they are being
called, and If we are going to be
regarded in this light we will guide
our course accordingly. America
can do without Europe far better
than Europe can do without Amer
lea. The war debts, as some claim,
may never be paid for So. years; if
Germany ever defaults upon
reparations payments, which is
deemed likely long before the end
of the 62 years, all ether payments
no doubt will stop automatically
Then we can write notes and be-
come quite irritated at the virtual
reputation; but that no doubt
wouldn't get us the money.
France at this moment is faced
with the necessity of obtaining five
billion francs from somewhere
within the next 80 days. A prodigi-
Gus task for NJ Poincare, and a
terrible outlook for the French
people. And then, while a forced
draft on wealth is contemplated
ana large TAX increase probable,
the French people note the require
ments of the debt funding with the
United States-and no wonder they
get mad. We should try TO appre-
sCiate the other fellows viewpoint;
but that isn't saying we need d to
agree with his ideas about cancel
lation, We may never get all the
money owing us, but in this gen.
Grafton the plan is to put forth an
effort to do so if only to reflect
popular conceptions of the sanctity
of debt contracts. A lot can hap
pen in 62 years.