Evening star., 1932-12-16
HOOVER TO ASK REVIEW.
Special Message to Seek Settlement for
Nations Paying Yesterday.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.
President Hoover's special message to
Congress will recommend the reconsid
Grafton of the war debts only of those
nations which have fulfilled their OBJ
ligati7n toward the United States, it
was stated this morning in official
quarters.
The delay in sending the message is
due to the fact that certain members
OF the administration are still hopeful
the cabinet crisis in France may be
solved in such way as to make it pos
sible for the new government to make
belated payment of the installment
which was due yesterday.
If the new French government makes
no effort to meet its obligations. how
ever the President, at an early date,
will ask the Congress to take into con-
sideration the request for readJuSt-
ment Of those nations only which have
paid the December installment, leaving
out France Belgium, Poland, Latvla
and Greece
Commitment Made.
The State Department has morally
committed the Government of the
United States to recommendation to
Congress to consider the demands of
all the nations which have asked for
6ebt revision. Tha. commitment is still
binding as far as Great Britain and the
other non-defaulting nations are con-
cernsd. but is no longer binding in re-
gard to the defaulting nations. There
is no doubt, however, II was stated this
morning that should any of the de-
faulters offer even a belated payment,
the Government Of this country would
accept it and the President would in
clude in his recommendation such
nations as may pay. even though they
have defaulted yesterday.
It is uncertain yet what kind OF an
agency the President will suggest to be
set up for the examinatlcn OF the indi-
vidual claims CT the debtor govern
ments The opinion of those close to
Mr.. Hoover is that he will suggest a
compromise between his own idea CT q
congressional agency and that of Presi-
dent elect Roosevelt, who informed the
President he favors the diplomatic
channels to deal with this question
Consequently it is likely the agency will
be composed of members OF both houses
diplomats Or men connected directly or
indirectly with the State Department
and probably men connected and inter-
ested in the debt and reparatlon prob
lens belonging to both political parties.
Reconsideration Seen.
The hopes of certain members of the
administration that France might
~l,c Nf -Satr- ayT H.
installment which was due yesterday
is based on reports from Paris that
after having upset the apple cart. the
French Chamber is at present in
somewhat classified mood and might
revise its point of view under new
administration such as that OF M.
Camille Chautemps. who is said to be
willing to accept the premiership only
if the Chamber would agree to pay
the $50 00O0 600 due yesterday. The re-
ports received in the course of the
morning from Paris indicate that a
number of French financial organiza-
tions and financial papers are strongly
opposed to the vote of the Chamber
and foresee.ng a certain amount OF
financial and political embarrassment
for France. would like the new govern
ment to bring the issue before the
Chamber again.
On the other hand. the polltlcal
newspapers of the Right and Moderate
parties as well as public opinion are
strongly against the payment OF the De-
cember installment. hoping France would
get a fair treatment even though sne
has defaulted. The smoke Of the battle
has not cleared yet it was stated in
official quarters. land it might be well
to wait for the developments which
NAV occur within the next few days be-
fore We can have really fair opinion
of what is going to happen in France.
A new note from the French govern
ment asking for revision of debts
would be politely answered by the State
Department. It was stated, but that
would not mean this Government would
be in any way bound to transmit it to
the American Congress.