Evening star., 1932-11-13
ROOsevelt's Election
Is Hailed by BritOns
BY A. @. GARDINER.

LONDON, November 12.-Franklin
D. Roosevelts victory in the American
elections has had an enthusiastic re-
ception by the press here. The London
Spectator describes 1t as the most SEN
sational event in American party his
tory in more than a century.
No previous presidential election has
aroused such interest throughout Eu-
rope and the result Is regarded as a
bullish argument for the world situation
in general.
The rigidity Of President Hoover's at
titude Is contraSted unfavorably with
the more responsive and experimental
spirit attributed to Mr.. Roosevelt, and
Liberal opinion has been especially i'm
pressed by the latter's more enlightened
position on the tariff question. Among
tile causes of the economic collapse,
Americas refusal to take payment of
war debts in terms of goods is held to
the modification f this attitude Is ex-
In view of the extreme urgency of in
ternational events, regret is felt at the
delay in Mr. Roosevelt's assumption of
office and the hope is expressed that the
cordial terms of President Hoover's
message to Mr.. Roosevelt after the elec-
ton indicates that the transition in
terval will be used to the utmost in
laying the foundations of the new
Presidents policy.
The most immediate issue is the
question of the payment on the war
debt due December Is, which was the
subject of the British note delivered to
Secretary OF State StimSon on Thurs
day. The Lausanne agreement ending
reparations Is conditional on world
settlement of war debts, and no pro-
vision Is made in the British budget for
the December payment ~
Until 1t is known what washington
wishes, no disclosure will be made here
Of the contents of the British note. The
general expectation in political circles
Is that arrangements for the postpone
ment OF the December payment will be
made. If not, the government will meet
the obligation by borrowing 1t is not
supposed in any responsible quarter
that the government will contemplate
default, and it is understood that the
British government has already taken
measures to fulfill the obligation If
washington Is indisposed to agree to
suspension.
But this Is only an incident in the
larger problem of q final world settle
ment of the war debts, to which Amer
lea holds the key. The fact that mo
cancellation" was the slogan of both
parties in the election does not mean
That America is not prepared to consider
drastic revision of the existing scale.
winch, events have shown, Is impracti-
cable and the insiStence on which has
effectively prevented world recovery,
The fact that the alteration of the
debts settlement is in the hands of Con-
gress and that the new Congress does
not meet Tor year Is felt to enhance
the difficulty Of the situation, especially
in view Of the desirability Of clearing.
the ground Of this obstinate question
before the convening of the world eco
nomic conference in March. The i'm
preston prevails here that, in spite OF
the mo cancellation" formula, America
Is becoming increasingly sensible that
the war debts are the one main obstacle
to the revival Of trade.
But it Is realized that the American
attitude in regard to cancellation Is
intimately connected with the problem
Of disarmament. On this subject Presi-
dent Hoover's policy was admitted to be
eminently wise, and Mr.. Roosevelt In
herits what seems to be more favor
able situation. Events in the last week
have taken more hopeful turn.
The text Of the French plan has not
yet been published, but the more its
purposes are understood the more
opinion here Is favorably impressed. 1t
seems, certainly, to be by far the most
striking gesture toward peace which has
issued from France, and Premier Her
riots speech at Toulouse, with its gen.
nll 81 TkAIw
has done much to improve the atmos-
phere.
Germany's return to the Geneva Con-
ference Is now assumed as certain, and
Foreign Minister Stmon's full accept
arce In the House Of Commons Thurs
day Of Gernany's claim to an equality
status, coupled with an outline Of
British prepesaA fer dissrtnanasas
which mark . notable advance from the