The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-05-05
ENGLAND ASKS
REINSTATEMENT
OF U. s. STAND
Controversy Arises Over Sec.
retary Melons Letter to
Princeton u. Head
ERROR CLAIMED IN TEXT
Mellon Insists Debt Cancel
laticn Would Place I'm
just Burden on u. S.

Washington, May J.-(R-Grcat
Britain has sought an official re-
statement from the Washington gov
ernment arising from Secretary Mel
Ions letter to President Hibben of
Prlnceton University regarding the
british war debt, but Secretary Kel-
iogg, IN a two-paragraph note, has
repiied that the discussion was pure
~ domestic and no desire for diplo-
matte; exchanges is entertained.
10 the opinion expressed in the
british note, however, that Mr.. Mel
IONS letter was in some instances in
accurate and that some declaration
seemed advisable Ito remove the un-
fortunate impression that has been
created" the American treasury
secretary countered with. a lengthy
statement devoted to defense of his
ton that cancellation of war debts
would place an unjust burden upon
the American people.
Specifically, the British note COM
planned against what it termed the
misleading impression given by Mr..
Mellon that Great Britain debt pay
ments to the United States will not
constitute drain on England's econ
omic resources and that she is re-
ceiving in reparations from other
nations more than her payments to
the american treasury.
Error in Text
A chief point of disagreement
which appears to have been a leading
factor in the new airing of war debts
Was 4 statement by Mr.. Mellon in his
Hibben letter that "al1 our principal
debtors are already receiving from
Germany more than enough to pay
their debts to the United States"
This the British government denied
as to its own circumstances and Mr..
Mellon, in his public statement. ad-
mits that through typographical
error the words "except Great Bri-
tain," were inadvertently omitted. He
contended, however, that The error
was IAN obvious one" and was COR
rccted Immediately in the text fol-
lowing.
After explaining how the omiss ion
was covered in the text, the treasury
secretary said:
Mellon "Surpriscd'
"In the light Of this very clear
and definite statement, it is rather
surprising that the British govern
inenC should lay stress on what the
context showed to be q Topographic
cal error, Immediately corrected, and
so to such length to disprove a state
ment which was already completely
covered"
In fact, this phase of the Hibben
letter foreshadowcd renewal Of the
debt discussion. long before any in.
timations developed that a formal
note was to be delivered. The SEN
tencc regarding adequate reparations
by "all" other coHntries to take care
Of the American obligations was sub
jcctcd to wide discussion in the for
eign press and was the cause for
which frequent questions were di-
rected at British cabinet members in
the house Of commons.
At the outset of it's note, the Brit
ish government emphasized that
while it regretted Mr.. Melons sim
accuracies," the communication was
presented sin no contentious or con-
trovcrsial spirit"
Friendship Desired
"On the contrary the note said,
"thcir British government's) desire
is to maintain and to promote a
friendly understanding between the
twoI great English speaking nations,
bn whose cooperation great issues
for the peace and progress of the
world depend. Il
They view with great misgivings
the divergence Of opinions and the
cstrangement of sentiment which is
growing up in regard to these war
obligations" and added that it ap-
pcared the duty Of American and
English statesmen to set the facts
accurately before the world.
Secretary Kellogg made public a
short note to, the London govern
ment's representative saying, after
acknowledging the debt communica-
tion:
"The government Of the United |
States regards the correspondence be-
tween Mr.. Mellon and Mr.. Hibben as /
a purely domestic discussion and does |
not desire to engage in any formal
diplomatic exchanges upon the SUBJ
nd