Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-12
PO|NCARE SCORES
IN DEBT DEBATE
Believe Premier viii Receive
More Than Expected Major
ity When Poll Is Taken.
h the Associated Press.

b the Associated Press.
PARIS. July l2.-Belief grew today
that Raymond Poincare, French pre-
inter, would receive even greater than
the expected majority of about 30 votes
when the Chamber of Deputies finally
is polled on ratificst ton of the debt ac-
cord with America and Great Britain.
The first statement of his case yes
terday was hailed as a masterpiece OF
his political acumen. Frenchnen know
that the premier is past master at
the art Of stating simply and clearly
abstrlse and complex questions. but
Yesterday he outdid himself with
simple fervor which won him converts.
A crowded house followed his argu-
ments closely and gave him an ovation
when he left the speakers stand. to re-
sumo his speechmaking today, dealing
more specifically with the effect OF the
Young plan on the debt agreements.
Asked TO Ratify Agreements.
M. Poincare made it clear the Cham
Der was not being asked to ratify the
debts-.hat was done long ago-but to
ratify agreements which had granted
time for payment on the best possible
terms.
The adversaries of ratification, he
said. wanted to pay 10000. 600, 900
francs (the war stocks debt OF $407.-
600. 000) on August l in the hope OF
being relieved of the obligation Of pay
ing the rest.
He declared there was no other issue
than pure and simple ratification.
While favoring reservations himself, he
said. they must be incorporated in the
ratification text, but expressed sepa-
rately.
He agreed with his opposition that
other countries. at least Italv and Jugo-
slavia. had been treated more gener-
cusly than France by America, but he
said that as far as France was con-
money borrowed to continue the war,
which ought to be repaid.
Poincare Resumes Speech.
Premier Poincare took up today
where he left off yesterday. explaining
to the Chamber of Deputies why they
must ratify the debt accords with Amer
lea and Great Britain, expressing their
reservations in a separate text.
We must take things as they are"
he said. 1T is not enough to appeal
to the noble sentiments Of nations. Ma
tions are egoistic collectivities. Men
are men" He added Even our finan-
cial restoration would be an argument
against us
The premier recalled that when Sec
rotary Mellon visited France recently,
"he refused to talk on the debts. 1t
was then that the French government
got the understanding with other ma
tons for a committee OF experts to
draft a plan which created a liaison,
in fact if not in law, between the pay
ments of the debtors and the creditors"
It was thus M. Poincare linked the
debts to Britain and America with the
reparations payments. France, he said,
had finally obtained a long-sought
point in this fashion.
Cites Chamber Article.
He cited to the chamber article 7
Of the Mellon Berenger agreement
which authorized the United States to
throw on the market French obligs-
tione given during the war, which
Yesterday he described as exactly as
binding As French treasury bonds.
Secretary Mellon, ne said, however,
had written him America had no
thought of ever doing this in any way
to injure France. In all the American
debt agreements to France, he added,
France Jared as we'll or better than
other countries.
Ruhr Occupation Profitable.
The premier said the occupation Of
the Ruhr had been an important profit
able operation for France. since it not
only netted the country billion and
half francs. but assured creation and
acceptance Of the Dawes plan. He re-
minded the deputies that when France
entered the Ruhr in 1928. the govern
ment more than once had declared 1t
would not repudiste the debts. but in
tended to pay them in proportion TO the
sums received from Germany.
He then repeated his point made yes
terday that France had no standing in
a court II the debt was disposed, be-
cause America would only have to pro-
duce the signed obligations to get a
judgment.
"A tribunal would not consider our
sacrifice Of life and property loss in
the war" he said.