Evening star., 1932-12-14
Officials Silent
on Possible
Action.
NATION ACCUSED
OF INCRATITUDE
End of Negotiations
for Trade Pact
FOreseen.
BY the Associated Press.


France was envisioned in ON
cial and congressional quarters
today as in an isolated position in
consequence of the decision
against meeting It's obligations
due to this Government tomor-
row.
1naSmucn as it had not as yet
been advised ofIicially that the
$19,261 ,432 would not be forth
coming. the State Department
awaited expiration of the time for
payment before making any an
nouncement as to what action
may be taken. President Hoover
also was silent.
But Senators and Represent
atives on Capitol Hill were far
from reticent, one after another
assailing the French action in
such terms as "unwise" and "un-
grateful.
Meanwhile. it was recalled the Brit
ish decision to pay the $95 $50, 900 due
from it had been welcomed by this
Government after Washington had ad-
vised London that meeting the obnga-
ton would make more auspicious op-
portunity for re-examination OF the
debts as whole. The conditions
stipulated by Great Britain are not con-
sidered here to be binding on the United
States, however.
May Sees Stimson.
Ambassador Paul May of Belgium
conferred with Secretary Of State Stim-
son this morning on the Belgian deci-
sion against meeting the 81. 5000 due
from that country.
The Polish Ambassador Tytus Filipo-
wicz also had conference with Secre-
tary Stimson on the debt situation, but
did not deliver q formal note.
The Secretary refused to indicate
whether the Polish government had
told him Of any decision on the pay
mentS due tomorrow.
Negotiations between France and this
country for a commercial treaty prob
with default tomorrow, as conditions
will not be favorable for their continu-
ance.
Trade between France and the
United States is at low ebb and the
United States has felt for some time
that France has administered tariff
quotas and regulations in such a man
ner as to discriminate against American
exporters
The United States might impose re-
taliatory tariffs against France as q
protest, but in official circles no such
step IS foreseen In the immediate fu-
ture.
Expressions Of congressional ind!gna-
ton against France first rose in Demo-
cratic quarters, Senator McKellar Of
Tennessee saying it was clear that Ger
many is not the only European nation
that treats its obligations as scraps of
paper"
Called Ungrateful Act.
II think it is the most ,ngrateful act
in the career Of any nation in the
world" he added to newspaper men.
One congressional view given to re-
porters. by Chairman McReynolds Of
the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
was that France has less excuse not to
pay than any other nation.
"The settlement made with her was
only IS per cent Of what she received
after the war.
There is no question about Frances s
ability to pay.
Il admire very much the strenuous
fight made by Premier Herriot, but ap-
parently the opposition ran wild:
Senator McNary, assistant Republican
leader, expressed surprise at the French
decision, adding:
Il can't foresee what we may be up
against"
Bingham Surprised.
Senator Bingham, Republican. Of
Connecticut said he had not supposed
"the French, whose business sense Is
so acute, would default"
"They forget that had we been un-
willing to loan them the money they
needed when they needed 1t and on
reasonable terms, the result would nave
been fatal to France" he said.
Senator Harrison, ranking Democra!
on the Senate Finance Committee, said
"France's attitude is incomprehensible
to me-
One prominent Democratic Senator
who refused to permit his name to be
used, held the view "the result VIII be
SO embarrassing to France that she VII!
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