Evening star., 1932-08-07
BY FRANK H. SIMONDS.

T INTERESTING and important as Is
Senator Borah'S recent conversion
to what must, despite the Senator's
Il own protest, be called the doctrine
of debt cancellation. it is clear that
in European eyes this conversion as yet
remains incomplete. For 1t is condi-
toned upon certain corresponding Euro
pean actions which are and must re-
main for long time out of the ques-
ton. Thus, meaSurably, Borah re-
mains in the situation SO long occupied
by the French In respect of reparations.
By the time of the Hoover mora
torium a large portion Of the French
public had become skeptical of the pos
sibility of recovering any further con-
siderable payments from the Germans.
They were unwilling, however, to agree
to any out-and-out cancellation, be-
cause they saw in such step the weak
ening OF the territorial aspects OF the
treaty But they we're ready to agree
to practical cancellation provided the
Germans, on their side, would make a
reciprocal sacrifice Of their claims for
revision OF treaty, notably In the matter
of the Polish Corridor and union with
Austria.
AT Lausanne, however, the French
were at last forced to abandon all these
claims and agree to a settlement OF
reparationS on the purely economic and
financial bases Of the question. Tech-
nically. by means Of the compromise
bin6ing Germany to pay $714.000,000 on
certain conditions hardly likely to be
fulfilled, they saved the treaty intact.
| But Germany was left also with free
hands so far as her campaign Tor ter
ritorial revision was concerned.
Disarmament Unlikely.
In Just the same way, Senator Borahl
would now make American cancellation OF
| the war debts contingent upon European
disarmament. But in the existing state
of mind in Europe, and particularly IN
the light Of the present uncertainty III
Germany, reduction OF the military
forces Of the adjoining nations, Wnc
have reason to fear German purpose
with respect of their territory or secur-
ity, is unlikely. 1t is true that the pres
ent financial plight of all countries may
compel a temporary reduction IN mill
tary expenditure. But no country Is
likely to agree to make this feouctloH
permanent and unconditional.
AS a consequence. particularly In the
light of what actually occurred at Geneva
the attempt to introduce the question o.
armamentS into the agenda OF the IN
LeTUdllOIlhl pIODPSiASJ
which Borah himself advocates, couit
only lead to hopeless confusion ane
make actual achievement wholly un'
likely. ANY German delegation to Sucf
conference would be compelled be-
cause Of domestic political conditions
to raise the issue of equality WITT
France, while the Italians would bt
bound similarly to reopen the issue O
naval parity with their Mediterranean
rival.
What is refreshing about the Borai
pronouncement is the fact that Tor TN
first time an American statesman O
influence has brought the question o
debts back to the basis on which i
ought always to have been considered
that of practical American interest Or
the one hand the advocates OF can
collation. have invariably raised tn
; sentimental and moral issues, while ol
, the other hand the opponents nav
. talked darkly of the fashion in which
the American taxpayer Is to be mulctet
, and the extent to which the poo
! American people are to be victimizet
by European conspirators and American
bunglers
! The simple truth is that IN TN
, attempt TO collect the European &C
. counts the United States has areao'