The Washington times., 1931-10-24
No POLEM|CS,
PREM|ER'S
RETORT
White House Denies Talks on
"DemandS" and "Terms of
Settlement" Are Involved

"DemandS" and "TermS of
Settlement" Are Involved
Continued From Page -
him to express his views on world
problems.
Versailles Treaty Attacked
Mr.. Borah promptly replied
that he saw no hope for peace in
the world, nor hope for disarma-
ment, until the injustices Of the
Versailles Treaty were rectified,
mentioning specifically the ampu-
tation Of the Polish corridor from
Germany and the dissection Of
Austria Hungary.
MIR. Borah also said he favored
complete cancellation Of repara-
tions and war debts.
While the Idaho senator has
frequently expressed the same SEN
timent on the floor Of the Senate,
1t was, all new and heretical to
the French correspondents, and
they promptly relayed the inter
view to M. Laval.
Laval RetOrts HOtly
The premier, alarmed over the
possible reaction in France of
such tidingS, gave out q tart state
ment asserting that he didn't
come to Washington to engage in
p0lemicS with Senator BOrah, nor
to discuss revision of the Versailles
Treaty"
Mr.. Borah was rather be.
wildered at the tone of the
premier's statement, for he had
expressed himself, he said, only
at the request Of the Frenchmen
and then had given voice to views
he has long held and expressed
in the Senate.
There were indications today
that M. Laval later regretted his
Tejoinder to the chairman Of the
Senate Foreign Relations Com
n1ittee.
N2SJ N43S1A~ GA4AGAAS
Before leaving Washington, it
was reported, M. Laval will seek
an opportunity to make amends"
to Senator BOrah. The occasion
probably will arise tonight when
both are to be dinner guests Of
Secretary StimsOn.
Before the incident arose, Mr..
6timson had promised them eX.
elusive use of his study at Woodley
tonight for a chat, M. Laval
having expressed the wish for a
conference with the man the
French consider "the Idaho
OGRE"
During the forenoon, M. Laval
conferred with his own advisers
at the Edge residence, where he
makes his headquarters, and at
the French Embassy. At the
same time, Secretary Stimson and
Secretary Mills were with Mr..
Hoover.
Second White House Talk
Premier Laval, accompanied by
his financial adviser.interpreter,
Jacques Bizot, returned to the
White House shortly before 1880
q. M, = for another joint session
with Mr.. Hoover, Mr.. Stimson,
and Mr.. Mills. This left them
two hours before M. Laval was
due at q luncheon given him by
Secretary Of the Treasury Mellon.
It was announced that the
premier would have a press con-
ference Of his own at 4 o'clock,
this afternoon.
''NO Demands"
From the White House there
came this brief official statement
this morning:
Both the President and
Premier Laval wish it made
clear that the conversations
upon which they are engaged
are solely in respect of such
politics as each Of the two
governments can develop to
expedite recovery from the
world economic depression.
There Is no remote basis
whatever for statements as to
demands terms Of settlement
or any other like discussions.
- Happily there are no con.
trOverSieS to be settled between
France and America. None.
such exists.
"The sole purpose Of these
conversations Is the earnest,
frank exchange Of views with
. view to finding common
ground for helpful action i'm
the promotion Of constructive
progress In the world"
On the surface, this would
seem to rule out all considera.
ton of security guarantees for
France and confine the discus
SionS to economic issues, such as
war debts, reparations, the distri-
button Of gold, the German mora
toriunl. and the economic bene-
fits that would accrue from re.
duced armament.
Thunder On The Left
With regard to disarmament,
however, no French statesman
since Versailles has ever men.
toned the word without demand
ing security guaranty for
France in one form or another.
M. Laval is no exception, for he
has stressed it. in every public
utterance he has made in
America.
Significantly enough, the White
House. Stateuoen& vUoe is~SVad n,nI,y