Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-06-26
The Once Over
ELMER TWITCHELL ON SUSPENDING
THOSE WAR DEBTS
BY Fl. /. PHILLIPS

Dear President Hoover:
This is just a note to congratulate you on your
decision to let Germany forget her war debts for a
year. even though I personally have a bunch 1t will
be many years before she will want to start remem-
bering them. Germany was in no position to pay us
anything this year, anyhow. and in beating her 70
the announcement / think you displayed good know
ledge Of Psychological effects.
These war debts are too deep for me. I admit, and
the figures are just telephone numbers so far as I
am concerned. The nation that is owed that much
money is just as blue as the nation that owes II,
and / figure it has a bad effect on people to go on
worrying over any such vast sums. IL seems TO me
that the people of the Allied countries will get as
much relief from a moratorium on thinking about
the debts as the Germans will get from a moratorium
on paying them, SO the result should be beneficial all
around.
This matter Of what Germany owes us has upset me
for years. Every morning at the breakfast. table
would open my paper and see a table OF figures show
ing how many billion dollars we had coming and how
many years it would take us to get it. even with good
luck. There always seemed to be a note Of uncertainty
in these statements. and the idea of being cheated out
Of SO much money always ruined my day.
Now that the American people know that We won't
get any payments for a year at least 1t Is a big load
off their minds.
United States SPAS. 0OO. 900 for the year. but In a
country where even BARRIERS talk in millions and where
a sum like that wouldn't even be considered Christ
mas savings club money by Amos n Andy, Rudy VAL
lee or any good radio or moving picture star. II doesn't
bring any audible groans. We have sock merchants
here who get that much money in income tax refunds
every year.
There Is a lot Of talk about the sanctity Of debts,
but I figure II Germany never pays anybody a nickel
il will be a good thing for the world. II will, in fact,
be a wonderful lesson 70 all. because when another
war is threatened II will flop at once because nobody
will be able to take a war to a bank and get a loan
on il.
The day when a nation can even put up a couple
OF major battles as collateral for thirty cents in cash
will be over Just as soon as IL Is generally realized
that war debts are uncollectable. II Is all very well
10 talk Of cutting out armies and navies, but wars viii
never be impossible until we cut out lending money
on them. Once a nation knows it will have TO wage a
war. using matches for money. peace will be guaran-
teed.
The people now know that all the nations were
cookoo when they went into the world war. and that
thinking Of II only makes them nuttier. So congratula-
ting you again and hoping your hair shirts are gradual
" going to pieces on you. I am
Yours respectfully
Finer TUitchell
THE NEW LINE
In complying with President Won Hindenburg's plea
for a suspension OF debt payments. the Allies will,
in a manner OF ~sneaking, be hating in front OF the
Hindenburg dotted line
SONG OF WILKINS
With her engines dead and her batteries weak
Her oil tanks foul and her hull a-leak
we are not downcast and We feel we'll win
She's a darned good sub for the shape she's in
Mr.. Earl Carroll. advertising for good looking well
hammered young men for his box-offices. announces
that he will put charm into those departments OF
the theater business. The only question Is whether
the theater going public could stand the shock OF con-
tact with a box-office attendant who showed no symp-
toms OF being in the last stages OF the rabies.
That Vanderbilt Arno episode in Reno NAV brine
TO American life the new abb. II didn't know i was
unloaded"
GERMANY viii Accent Debt SUSPENSION Uncondi-
MISUNDERSTANDING That's the big-hearted spirit
boyl