The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-12-13
WORLD PERIL
SEEN IN DELAY
ON WAR DEBTS
Roosevelt Backing Viewed
as Vital in Appeal for
Action by Congress.
FEAR OF CHAOS RISES
Default and Other Dangers
in 0ffing If Do Nothing
Policy Continues.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMS
Scripps-Howard Foreign Editor


WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.-Inter-
national complications of the most
serious import to the United States
were foreseen here today unless
Franklin D. Roosevelt backs Presi-
dent Hoover in request to con-
gress to authorize some sort of
agency to dicker with Europe on
war debts.
Feeling, already high, has begun
to mount on both sides of the At
lantic. Europe's amazingly mis-
guided efforts to dictate new war
debt terms to the United States,
as indicated in Britains surprise
note of Sunday, has ruffled tempers
here.
simultaneously, in pairs, armed
guards were thrown about the
American embassy and Ambassador
Edges residence because of the hos
tile reception given by the French
populace to Premier Edouard Her
riots speech favoring payment of
Frances $19,0OO,0OO installment due
next Thursday.
Danger Is Scented
These are seen as straws in the
wind. Leaders, both on and off
Capitol Hill, scent danger if con-
greSs-which alone has power to act
-postpones action for another
year, as now seems altogether
likely.
Almost anything can happen,
they warn-default, reputation,
and the whole string of hair-raising
possibilities such a thing would
mean in an already shell-shocked,
irritable, and tottering Europe.
President Hoover's plan for
handling war debts still is hang
ing fire. He insists things now very
decidedly have reached a place
where it is up to congress to au-
thorize some kind of body to do
something about Europe's clamorous
appeals for reconsideration.
Roosevelt Opposes Plan
This, both he and the state de-
partment remind, commits us to do
nothing more than to give polite and
serious consideration to Europes
plea for revision. II convinced
tIoof ,~a1-ie;O,, !. ,,,,,,,o ,.,.o .,4al .f4z..
listening to the evidence, Europe
could so be informed on congress
sional, and, therefore, final, au-
thority
President-Elect Roosevelt has re-
fused to back this plan. He pro-
poses that the President and state
department continue negotiations.
This, it is observed, in face of the
fact that not only neither has the
slightest authority to change exist
ing agreements by so much as a
comma, but this method of approach
already has been exhausted to its
literally bitter dregs.
Roosevelt does not take office I'M
til March 4. On that date the
present lame duck congress goes out
Of Office. The new congress will not
convene until December, 1933-un-
less there is an extra session, which,
it is said, Roosevelt wishes to avoid.
Congress Can Act
The Constitution has given con-
gress sole authority in such matters
2 c a lone fovoc o.a6
1t was congress that passed the Lib
erty loan act under which the
money was raised to lend to Europe.
1t was a war debts commission
authorized by congress that negoti-
ated the existing funding agree
ments. And only congress can do
anything about war debts now.
For congress to permit the dan
gerous war debts stalemate to drift
for another year, would, it is feared,
throw the world out of the polit-
ical and economic frying pan into
the fire. Yet, it is admitted, with
out the active urging of Roosevelt
as well as Hoover, congress will not
act between now and March 4.
That individual leaders and or
CARNATIONS all over the country
scent danger and oppose the pres
ent perilous do-nothing policy,
plainly is indicated by the petitions,
letters, kilograms and resolutions
reaching members of congress daily.
In line with this, the United
States Chamber of Commerce today
began a nationwide referendum on
war debts revision as part Of a broad
program of arms reduction and
trade concessions. A committee of
the chamber, having approved of
action by congress in the above
sense, today set about polling its
membership. Cancellation of the
debts is opposed