Evening star., 1931-12-14
BECK MAKES PLEA
FOR DEBT HOLIDAY;
DILL HITS REVISION
Debate Flares After House
Puts Moratorium on Thurs.
days Calendar.
RATIFICATION EXPECTED
BEFORE YULE HOLIDAYS
U. S. Will Excuse Postponement
CT Payments Due From Foreign
Nations Tomorrow.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
A cracking of debate burst in both
Houses of Congress today over the Pres
idents moratorium proposal
Hardly had arrangements beer made
in the House by Chairman Collier the
Democratic head of the Ways and
Means Committee, for the subject to
come before that branch Thursday, be-
fore Representative Beck Of Pennsyl-
vania called upon the members to sup
port the proposal.
At about the same time, Senator Dill,
Democrat, Washington, was telling the
legislators at the other end Of the Cap
itol that Mr.. Hoovers recommendation
for revival of the War Debt Commission
was a plan to balance the British bud
get.
Beck told the Democrats they might
be justified in believing the next Presi-
dent would be Democrat, but insisted
support should be given President
Hoover.
With due regard for constitutional
propriety," Beck said Mr.. Hoover pro-
posed the moratorium.
Serious Consequences Seen.
In this matter of international af-
fairs let's forget politics. Let's agree
with the President He may pe wrong
but he at least will have the comfort
of knowing the country is behind him.
If this House by its failure to agree
to fOrbearanCe in this question. de-
stroys the ability of foreign govern
ments to pay not only these debts but
their others, it will have inflicted a
punishment on this country that COM
pareS with the present economic con-
dition like a cyclonic storm compares
with a Spring zephyr
Dill told the Senate revision of war
debts means cancellation.
Opposes Credits for Arms.
The American people have consent
ed to all the cancellation they should
consent to-" he said.
Let us not be guilty of giving them
credit to continue their vast arma-
ments."
Dill said no other international pro-
posal had been so completely rejected
by members Of Congress for many
years.
The Washington Senator said after
reading Secretary Melons explanation
of the Presidents recommendations he
was convinced it was proposal to
balance the British budget"
1t said" he added, that owing to
depreciation of the British pound it
would be necessary for Great Britain to
pay about so per cent more pounds on
her debt, and recommended this should
be cut down so that England could be
required to pay no more pounds"
Action Slated This week.
Arrangement for the House to pro-
ceed on ratification was made today.
Chairman Collier of the Ways and
Means Committee expects action before
the week end.
The Senate is expected to approve
the moratorium before the Christmas
recess.
Prior to Golfers announcement, as
surance was given President Hoover by
Republican Leader Smell that the mora
torium proposal would be ratified
quickly.
AS he left the White House Smell
said 1t was the administrations view
that there should be no question in
yolved as to any cancellation of foreign
debts and that the moratorium should
stand alone.
Smell said the President was par
ticularly interested in the Emergency
Reconstruction Finance Corporation,
and that House Republicans hoped for
action upon it before the Christmas re-
cess.
Will Excuse Dept Postponements.
Il don't know about that, however, i"
he said. The other side can say bet
ter about it. They are in control and
theirs is the responsibility
Meanwhile, the State Department ad-
viSed the British and Finnish govern
ments that postponement Of war debt
payments due tomorrow would not sub
ject them to Just criticism"
The two governments, through their
missions here, inquired regarding the
status of their payments due to the fact
Congress had not approved the one-year
moratorium On intergovernmental debts.
The administrators attitude was
communicated orally and was based on
the expectation the moratorium would
days.
Secretary of State StimSon said SIM
liar assurances would be given other
debtor nations If they inquired regard
ing the status of their payments.
With nothing stronger to 90 upon
than the absence of objection on the
part of Senate leaders who were told
about it, Undersecretary Mills an
nounced last night the position taken
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