Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-01-17
OPPOSE DEBTS CUT |
FOR ARMS SLASH
Congress Leaders State
ments Reveal UnwiIIingneSs
to Bargain With Europe.
fContinued From First Page. }

|
is none in the country. Certainly the
political party which advocates such
a policy during this year of the presi-
Dental campaign will be showed
under"
Senator Watson, Republican, of In
diana, Senate majority leader:
Il agree to cancellation or reduc-
ton of foreign debts under no condl-
lions that might be imposed. Several
CT us for a while thought that II they
would wipe out reparations in Europe
and very largely reduce armamentS
and armies we might consent to seal
ing down of the debts but that posi-
ton was rendered untenable by reason
of Overwhelmingly adverse criticism
and I do not know of anybody that Is
advocating even that.
Il have been hoping that the other
nations would not permit France TO
jockey them into position where we
should be compelled to treat with them
en- bloc. I have believed all the while
that We should deal with each Euro
pean nation in accordance with It's
present capacity to pay, just ike
bank deals with its debtors differently
situated. I believe that France can
pay in full and it is perfectly ridiculous
to think that she will not pay because
England cannot pay or Belgium cannot
pay in full or Italy can pay but little.
Senator George H. Moses, Republi-
can, of New Hampshire. chairman of
the Senate Rules Committee and presi-
dent pro tenn:
II do not think the temper of Con-
gress contemplates a cancellation or even
| a revision fthe war debts. The con-
| flicting volume of information regard
| ing the ability to pay of our debtors
seems to me to lead to a conclusion OF
! inaction-even If I do not discern a
direct and possible hostility to any pol
| icy of cancellation or revision. AS for
! cancelling or revising the debt In con-
sideration of any reduction In the
armament budgets Of our debtors, l am
of opinion that we should not attempt
| to bride Europe to do that which 1t
ought to do voluntarily and for its own
/ good"
Might Ease Payments"
Senator Wesley L. Jones, Republican,
of Washington, chairman OF the Sen
ate Appropriations Committee:
II am not in favor of cancelllng any
| of the European debts nor do L feel
that we should give those debtors any
| further extension of time. If they feel
| they must repudiate the debts, they
should be left to do it and take the
| consequences. II the Disarmament
Conference should adopt definite and
| concrete steps toward worthwhile dis
armament, then I would feel disposed
| to give some consideration to Sugges-
tons with reference to making their
debt payments to us easier, but not
| otherwise. I am sure the American
! people feel, as 1 feel, that most sub
| stantial reductions have been made IN
regard to those debts aready-too
much, in my judgment"
Snator Kenneth Mcclellan, Demo-
! crat, of Tennessee, member of the Sen
| ate Appropriations Committee:
Il consider it a misnomer to talk
| about European war debts. Amerl5a
| already has Cancelled the war debts.
Europe owes us for money loaned to
| her at the cheapest rates ever received
by a government-money for the re-
| Mobilization of her countries and the
| administration of her various govern
ments after the war. Speaking Tor
myself. I am utterly opposed to any
! further reduction or cancellation OF
| these debts and l believe that an over
whelming majority of the American
people feel the same way about it.
! Neither the Congress nor the people
! have any faith that the European pow
| ers will agree to drastic cuts in their
disarmament budgets. They might
make some gesture to that effect in
order to get the debts Cancelled, but
| they are not going to reduce their
| ornaments and we are idling away our
! time when We act upon that theory.
paid for War Many Times"
Senator Vandenberg, Republican, of
! Michigan. member of the Senate For
eign Relations Committee:
Il cannot hazard an opinion on the
| particular question as to whether debt
reduction or cancellation would be our
reply to European disarmament. But
/ this much is Sure-if there is ony
| chance Of American approval for the
readjuStment CT the war CebtS it is
only on the basis of some such con-
sideration as that which you describe.
! Even this consideration would Lave to
be very definite and very formidable
in order to challenge American app
! proval. The truth of the matter is
/ that we have already paid our share
OF the war cost many times over"
| Representative Rainey of Illinois,
Democratic majority leader in the
! House:
In my judgment the present Con-
! gresS would not assent either to curtail-
ment or cancellation of the war debts
l am absolutely certain that the people
of the United States would not approve
| Of either Curtailment or cancellation.
Either proposition would mean that the
| taxpayers of the country would be COM
PEELED to assume in the one case a con-
siderable burden and in the other case
! q LARGE nf taYatinn
) the European powers which owe us
money would make very moderate cuts
| in their armament budgets, they would
| be able to pay US what they owe us. l
understand that their expenditures for
ornaments have increased IS per cent
since 1913 and that these increases
alone amount now to about eight times
as much as they pay us in money.
Members of Congress who voted by
wire when Congress was not in session
| Il refer to their kilograms to the Presi-
dent are anxious to have the propo-
sition again come up before Congress OF
a further postponement for another
wear. 1t will probably come up next
NAV or June. They are anxious thor
oughly to clear themselves by voting
| against another extension or by voting
against a curtailment or cancellation
of the debts"
| SHOULD Reduce Arms"
Representative Wood, Republican, OF
Indiana, ranking minority member OF
the House Appropriations Committee:
In my opinion the people Of the
Tinted States are unalterably opposed
to any further reduction in the Euro
pean war debt obligations and under
no circumstances will they consent to a
cancellation of them. am OF opinion,
and think the majority mind OF our
people is of the same opinion, that the
European nations should MAKE a ola s.,
order that they might be the better able
to pay their obligations. I do not think ,k
we should make any proposal or hold
out out any hope that by reason of their
doing this thing which is their bound en-
dutv to do we in turn would reduce
their debt to US. s pa,uh,;-