Evening star., 1932-11-14
Fight Is Seen
to Extending
Moratorium
PRESIDENT ASKS
GOVERNOR HERE
Calling of Special
Congress Session
Is Favored.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Great Britain and France, each
$4,000,000,000 debtors of the
United States, today sought re-
lief from further payments pend
ing an international conference
on world debt problems.
Publication of their formal re-
quests, made to a Government
already on record against fur
ther reduction or cancellation,
conceded with telegram from
President Hoover to President
elect Roosevelt, inviting his sue
cessor to a conference on the sub
ject-an action without exact
precedent in all presidential his
tory.
1t brought also suggestions of
immediate Congressional consid-
Grafton. Senator Walsh, Demo-
crat, of Montana, said that if "it
becomes necessary to dispose of
the matter at once a special ses-
sion of Congress should be called"
Committee Meeting Urged.
Representative Ragon, Democrat, Of
Arkansas, who drafted the declaration
against further reductions which Con-
gress attached to the Hoover one-year
moratorium on intergovernmental debts.
recommended an immediate meeting OF
the House Ways and Means Committee
to consider the question.
This previous congressional declara-
ton was stressed by President Hoover
in his telegram to Roosevelt, dispatched
from the train on which he is speeding
back to the White House
''If there is to be any change in the
attitude of Congress 1t viii be greatly
affected by the views of those men,
bers who recognize you as their leader"
the Chief Executive said. "I am
loathe to proceed with recommended
tions to the Congress until ! can have
an opportunity to confer with you
personally"
Friends expected Roosevelt to accept
the invitation.
Fight Predicted.
Whatever President Hoover and
President-elect Roosevelt might agree
on in connection with war debts, signs
point to plenty of controversy in
Congress.
AS the President sped homeward, and
= L. -nI sxa 11ov -
ply to his invitation for White House
conference, returning members of Con-
gress aired their views TO newspaper
men in Washington.
Senator Fess, Republican, of Ohio,
favored an international conference
looking toward debt adjustments,
but opposed undertaking negotiations
aimed to bring about cancellation.
These loans must and will be paid.
If the debtor countries default their
payment the taxpayer Of the United
States will have to pay, as this country
does not repudiate its Obligations.
"a concrete proposal in definite
agenda should be submitted as basis
and prerequisite for conference"
Byrns Opposes Extension.
Representative Byrns of Tennessee,
one of the leading candidates for
Speaker in the new Democratic House,
expressed opposition to extension Of the
moratorium such as Is sought by
European powers.
II do not think that Congress, in
view Of its definite stand last year
against reduction of the war debts will
grant any reduction" he said.
II certainly would oppose any con-
sideration Of the debt question by Con-
gress unless it is to the interest OF the
American taxpayer"
Commenting on President Hoover's
invitation to Mr.. Roosevelt to confer
Byrns said "it appears to me that the
President is seeking to involve Presi-
dent-elect Roosevelt in a situation
brought about by the Republican ad-
ministration."
He added, however, ''if we are to have
private conferences about the war debts
we might as well have a special ses-
sion of Congress and discuss the situa-
ton in the OPEN"
Rankin Denounced Cancellation.
Representative Rankin Democrat)
Mississippi, who fought the Hoover mora
torium In the House year ago, today
said, President Hoover and his inter-
national banker advisers seem to be
trying TO rush this matter hoping to get
lame-duck Congress 10 peLrdy Tie
American people by canceling or reduc-
ing these war debts and unloading that
burden onto the backs of the already
overburdened taxpayers of America"
Il am unalterably opposed to cancel
lation of a single dollar" Rankin said
Practically every member Of the House
and Senate elected to the Seventy third
Congress is committed against any kind
of cancellation. So Mr.. Hoover wants
Continued on Page 5, Column 2)