The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-12-03

At present the United
States sells abroad consider
ably more than it purchases
abroad. Washington, there
fore, is informed, in effect,
that if the United States con-
tinues to insist upon collect
ing, Britain and France will
feel obliged to erect new tariff
or other barriers against
American goods.
Hectic days are seen ahead, ac-
companied, perhaps, by straining
Of international relations such as
has not been witnessed between
America and Europe for upward of
hundred years. It will be America
against three-quarters of the globe.
Twenty nations are involved in the
drive for revision of war debts.
StaIemate Is Likely
A stalemate is foreseen as a dis
tinct possibility here. There is wide
spread sentiment in congress
against what members call rushing
into revision" and well-nigh uni
versal opposition to reduction unless
and until Europe shows some sign
of willingness to participate in a
worldwide scaling down of arma-
ments and otherwise give the
American taxpayer some kind of
run for his money.
That this stalemate contains cer-
tain elements of peril, observers de-
clare, is clearly indicated by historic
precedent. France and the United
States almost went to war in the
1905 as a result of quarrel arising
out of an almost identical situation.
The sum involved at that time
amounted to less than $5,O00,OOO.
Between 1900 and 1920, the French
committed numerous depredations
against American shipping. America
asked for Naturalization and, in
1881, France signed a treaty to pay
American citizizens 25,0O0,O00 francs.
the United Statesc to pay counter
claims amounting to 100000.
SenatesR Rejects Idea
Then, as now, the settlement was
unpopular in France Two install
ments fell due without the French
chamber of deputies doing anything
about it. When it did act, it was
only to reject the agreement.
Thus matters stood, when in 1884,
President Jackson dealt with the
debt in message to congress. The
United States, he said, might bar
French goods from entering the
country, or French ships from using
our ports, but that would injure
America as much as it would French
trade.
French property, however, might
be seized in this country-a weapon
the French then were using against
the Portuguese.
The senate refused to go along
with jackson, but the house not
only upheld the treaty, but called
for preparations" to meet any
emergency" thus created.
French Are Reused
France famed with excitement.
She recalled her minister at Wash
ington. She offered the American
minister in Paris his passport. She
prepared for war In a huff, now,
the chamber appropriated the
money to pay three installments,
but stipulated that it was not to
be paid until America apologized
This "Old Hickory" refused to do.
He did say, however, in his note to
France, that no reflection on French
honor was intended. A month later,
in January, 1886, in a special mes
sage to congress, the doughty war
rior actually proposed the closing of
American ports to French vessels
and an embargo on French imports.
Just when things looked black
est, France construed Jackson's note
IS satisfactory, the storm subsidized,
and the ridiculous dab Of small
change was paid.