Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-01

| With few exceptions, American public
opinion expresses itself favorably to-
! ward President Hoovers proposal for q
war debt holiday.
The general feeling says the Chi
cago Daily News, is that a construc-
tive and courageous step at last has
been taken toward the economic re-
Mobilization Of depressed and discour-
aged world" The Atlanta Journal de-
clares that, whether or no the Presi-
dents move is the best that might have
| been made in that direction. the i'm
portant thing is that prolonged inaction
has given way to constructive EFFORT.
The Journal holds that II it will enable
hard-pressed governments and diScour-
aged peoples to catch their breath and
recover their balance. any sacrifice
which the indulgence may now require
will be abundantly offset by permanent
gains" The Cincinnati TimeS-Star
thinks that "at the bottom of an ex-
tended depression the world OF COM
merce and industry has been resting on
a dead center, awaiting an impetus that
would send it forward"
Expert opinion didn't expect any Of
the war settlements TO be permanent"
SAYS the Newark Evening News, which
believes that false promises were held
out" and that there was a catering to
human nature. with expert opinion
aware that more liberal settlements
would have to be substituted in time. 3"
The Baltimore Sun points out that cal
culation OF the justice of any debt rum
ming in monetary units involves con-
sideration OF what has happened to the
purchasing power of money since the
debt was contracted" The San Fran
cisco Chronicle records that finance
understands that II Germany can be
helped out of her distress the world de-
preston will be lessened and the con-
dition of the United States be i'm
proved"
President Hoover" according to the
Oklahoma City Times. finds himself
supported by leaders of both parties at
home, and by many of the leaders of
other nations. Only time can prove the
true merit of his proposal, but it mas
proved a measure Of usefulness in the
rising hopes expressed in many quar-
ters." The approval of Great Britain
impreSses the Providence journal as
especially significant" since "a nation
so persistently adhering from century to
century to the doctrine of the sanctity
of international obligations gives its
hearty assent to the proposal"
Given a reasonable chance" de-
clares the st. Louis Post Dispatch,
both Republicans and Democrats will
gladly lend a hand Mr.. Hoover appre-
ciates this. and in doing SO he is deserv-
ing Of commercial ton, not III our coun-
try alone. but everywhere. He has
shown what -partisanship can do"
The Charlotte Observer calls it "Signlfi-
cant that among the most outspoken
supporters of the President are leading
Democrats. such as Newton Baker, Pat
Harrison and Owen D. Young"
THE effect upon the stock markets of
the world is manifestly exhilarating,"
states the ST. Louis Globe-Democrat
Everywhere 1t is apparently regarded
as the opening of new economic era"
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette advises
that there is no mistaking the way
world opinion is running" and that "it
wants the Hoover plan put into effect as
soon as possible"
The Roanoke World-News, condemn
ing the French arguments, recalls that
Immediately after the United States
declared war in 1917, Virgin:ans, almost
without exception, applauded a proposal
of Representative Andrew jackson Nom
tague of Virginia that the first act look
ing to war preparations be the outright
gift of billion dollars to France" The
actual transactions are reviewed, with
the declaration that Great Britain is
carrying the major share of the load. I"
That paper concludes, The French
contention that separations payments
represent the cost of rehabilitating
regions of France devastated during the
World War hardly corresponds with &C
counts of underground fortresses France
is new constructing from this fund, all
along the German border"
4
The fact that England win follow