Evening star., 1932-12-22
Telegrams on War Debts
President Calls, Atent;on of PresidentEect Roose-
,elt to Urgency of Sifnaf;on-Repiy
Asks Free Hand.

grams exchanged between President
Hoover and President-elect Roosevelt
on the war debt situation:
Washington, 5:3s pm, December
Gov. Franklin Roosevelt.
Hyde Park. N. Y.
My Dear Governor:
As you have seen from the press the
position Of the debtor governments in
respect to the December Is payments
Is now largely determined. In accord
with both your expressions and my
own statements 1t IS the duty OF the
United States to survey and exchange
views ON these questions individually
with some of the debtor governments.
1t is necessary to consider the charac-
ter of machinery to be erected for this
purpose.
These problems can not be disasso-
ciated from the problems which will
come before the World Economic Con-
ference and TO some degree those before
the Conference ON World Disarmament.
As the economic situation tn foreign
countries is one of the dominant de-
pressants Of prices and employment in
the United States it is urgent that the
World Economic Conference should
assemble at as early date as possible.
The United States should be represented
by q strong and effective delegation.
This delegation should be chosen at
an early moment in order that it may
give necessary consideration and IA
miliariZe itself with the problems, and
secure that such investigation and
study is made as will be necessary for
its use at the conference.
Diplomatic Routine Inadequate.
Beyond this such problems as the
exchange of views in respect to debts
cannot be accomplished in satisfactory
manner through the ordinary routine
of diplomatic contacts. Satisfactory
conclusions can only be reached by free
and direct round table discussion with
each government separately where
agreemeit may be had upon fact and
where conclusions can be reached. It
has been an almost universal practice
in our Government, where unusual ana
vital questions are involved. to appoint
special delegations to undertake such
discussions. The routine machinery Of
diplomacy neither affords the type of
men required nor can they give the time
from other duties which such discus
sions require.
While We must not change our eStab-
lished policy of dealing with each debtor
separately, and. indeed, no other course
could be entertained in view of the
widely divergent conditions which ex-
ist in the different countries and the
very different situations in which they
find themselves. and while the decision
heretofore reached not to consider the
debt question at the coming World Eco
nomic Conference IS a wise one. it
seems clear that the successful outcome
10 will
be greatly furthered II the debt pro-
blems can be satisfactorily advanced
before that conference. although final
agreement in some cases may be con-
tingent upon the satisfactory solution
of certain economic questions in which
our country has a direct interest and
the final determination of which may
well form a part of the matters coming
before the economic conference.
It is desirable that such delegation
should include members Of the Con-
gress in order that such intricate facts
and circumstances can be effectively
presented to the Congress. It Is nc
derogation Of executive authority to
chose members from that quarter. II
might be well to consider whethes this
delegation should also embrace in Its
membership some of the old or new
members of the delegation to the Arms
! Conference in order that these three
important questions should be given CO.
ordinate consideration.
Urgency Of Situation.
If it were not for the urgency OF
the situation. both at home and abroad
and the possible great helpfulness to
employment and agricultural prices and
| general restoration Of confidence which
could be brought about by successful
issue Of all these questions and the
corresponding great dangers of inaction
it would be normal to allow the whole
matter to rest until after the change
of administration. but in the emergency
such as exists at the moment would be
neglectful of my duty if I did not facil-
itate in every way the earliest possible
dealing with these questions
It is obvious that no conclusions would
be reached from such discussion prior
| to March 4. but a great deal Of time
could be saved il the machinery could
be created at once by the appointment
of the delegates as have mentioned.
I shall be informing the Congress OF
the economic situation and of the de-
STABILITY Of the above-proposed ma
chinery for dealing with these confer
ence. I should be glad to know II you
could Join with me in the selection of
such delegation at the present time. or
If you feel that the whole matter should
be deferred until after March 4.
believe there would be no difficulty in
agreeing upon an adequate representa-
the first concern would be the selection
of a chairman for the delegation.
HERBERT HOOVER.
President-Elect Replies-
ALBANY, N. Y. $50 pm.
December 10, 1882.
The President. The White House:
Dear Mr. President: I have given
earnest consideration to your courteous
telegram Of December 18th and I want
| to assure you that I seek in every
proper way to be of help It Is my
view that the questions Of disarmament
| ntergovernmental debts and permanent
economic arrangements will be found
to require selective treatment, even
though this be with full recognition OF
the possibility that in the ultimate out
come a relationship of any two or OF
all three may become clear.
% As to disarmament: Your pol
| icy is clear and satisfactory. Some
time, however, is required to bring 1t to
fruition. Success in q practical pro-
gram limiting armaments, abolishing
! certain instruments of warfare and de-
creasing the offensive or attack power
of all nations will, in my judgment
have very positive and salutary in
fuence on debt and economic dis
! cussions.
Says Authority Exists.
(2) As to the debts: If any debtol
nation desires to approach us, sue!
nation should be given the earliest op'
portunity so to do. Certainly in th'
parliamentary conversations the Chic
Executive has full authority, eithel
through the existing machinery Of th'
diplomatic service or by supplementins
it with specially appointed agents o
the President himself. to conduct sucf
preliminary Investigations or inquirie'
without In any way seeking forma
congressional action. I am impelled tt
suggest. however, that these survey
| eI,o,,l<J ho liy,,itod IN OF fy,in0 facts