Evening star., 1929-07-01

The Franco-American debt crisis has
evaporated as suddenly as 1t crystallized
q few days ago. The bill for ratifica-
ton Of the Mellon-Berenger funding
agreement will begin In the Chamber
Of Deputies on July o. The Poincare
cabinet Is no longer In peril. Even 90
relentless foe as M. Caillaux pledges
his support of the ratification plan.
Adoption by the Chamber is expected
after o weeks debate, and on July 2S
the Senate will take up the bill. Before
August /, the date when Frances spe-
cial debt of $4o7, 900 900 for purchased
American war stocks would otherwise
be payable, Parliament, 1t Is now fairly
well assured. viii have given its assent
to ratification Of an agreement incor-
porating all of the republics obliga-
tions to the United States. This, at
least, is the gratifying outlook In light
Of week end Developments at Paris.
LIE Temps discloses what has brought
about the sudden change In the wind
on the Seine. "Ths Warrington Gov
ernment's reply TO cur request for
postponement Of the August payment
10 negative" says the semi-onicial
organ Of the Qual d'orsay, "but the
form In which 1t was made by the rep
resentative of the American republic
proves that the United States Govern
ment understood the spirit In which
the Paris government undertook the
mission intrusted 10 IL by Parliament. u
The reference Is to Secretary Stizn-
son In his conversation with Ambassa-
dor Claudel at the State Department
last Friday. "The Secretary Of State
recalled with Visible emotion" the ON
ciai French account Of their visit re-
veals. ''that he was an old friend oi
France, with French blood In his veins
and that after working for three years
for the entry Of his country into the
war; he had joined the Army at &c
years Of age and had been in the whole
campaign.
"Ie added that the question proposed
by the French cabinet had been de-
bated, on receipt Of press accounts OF
Thursdays session In the French Cham
Der, by the American cabinet. He
stated that the Constitution Of the
United States did not give the Presi.
dent power to adjourn payment Of such
. debt, and, furthermore, that the
resolution Of June 10 permitted no hope
OF q vote conformable to the desires oi
France.
'1Gr. Stimscn declared that he noted
with regret how French opinion was
disturbed and that American opinion
was not less 50.
American opinion believed that the
United States has acted In a perfectly
friendly way toward France, as by the
accord of 1926 the United States, in
reality, consented to the abandonment
of debts contracted by France during
the war and limited the charge on
France to the debts she had contracted
after the war"
Col. Stimson has given more thar
one indication during his three months
at the State Department that he Il
an adept at his profession. The suave
and sagacious method to which he re-
sorted to close the Franco American
debt incident Ia proof that hs is q
past master In vital department ol
international relations - the Language
Of diplomacy.
Il would be difficult TO think OF q
better illustration Of the soft answer
which "turneth away wrath" thar
Secretary stimson's confession Of hi
affection for France. He not only IA
vited his own soul. but voiced wha'
the French people must know to b
the deep sentiments Of the American
people as . whole.