The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-12-30
OF
RUSSIAN DEBT
is Hell D LIKELY
Issue May Be Decided as
General Revision Plan
Is Reached.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
seripps-Howzrd Foreign Editor

COMPLEMENTARY NpANAAH SNtNvN
WASHINGTON. Dec. 30.-Amer-
lean claims against Soviet Russia
totaling approximately $8O0,0OO,Oo0
now stand an excellent chance Of
being settled along with the newt
able general revision Of Europe's
$1,000 100000 war debts to the
United States.
Indications are increasing that
the incoming Roosevelt administrs-
ton will reverse the Hoover policy
of complete aloofness from contact
with Russia, and that conversations
between Washington and Moscow
will be initiated shortly after
March 4.
Conditions both inside and out
side Russia have changed radically
since American policy was formed
a decade ago, both Democratic and
Republican leaders here now hold,
and the time is ripe for re-exam-
= nation of the whole setup.
Settlement Held Likely
Even some Of President Hoover's
official household privately admit
there is now little differences be-
tween the attitude Of France and
some of the other debtor nations OF
Europe, and that Of Russia.
In fact, Russia's position in some
respects is held to be the more ten
able.
While she has disclaimed respon-
/, sibility for czarist and Kerensky
debts because the money was used,
!. at least in part, to Cypress the Rus
sian masses or to finance the allied
war against the existing regime, she
repeatedly has offered to sit down
i. at table with the United States
and Europe, and effect O. settlement
on a reciprocal basis.
: ROosevelts mind Open"
President Elect Franklin d. Roose-
: Welt has IAN open mind" on Russia.
Many of his party leaders already
are on record in favor Of resump-
= ton of normal relations.
This is taken to indicate that a
settlement with Russia is likely on
= fundamentally the same practical
basis as with Britain, France and
the other debtor nations of Europe.
Europe's attitude on war debts,
. furthermore, is seen as paving the
way for Russia to make a sweeping
settlement, not only with the United
= States but of her entire foreign obli-
cations.
Britain, France and the rest
!. hardly could refuse to pay the
money the United States let them
: have in the darkest hour of their
: national peril, and, at the same
: time, demand that Soviet Russia
make good the debts of the car
and Kerensky.
Valid Counter Claims
The Lausanne settlement with
Germany likewise has a bearing on
the issue. There, the allies agreed
to settle the original $4,000, 000, 900
separations claims against Germany
: for $714,000 900, or less than cents
OlA blAG AO4AQis
AS Russia's total, pre- revolution,
foreign debt amounts to approx
mately $8,000O00,00O, mostly owed
to Britain and France, settlement
in full on a Lausanne basis would
require less than $200,000,000.
And against such sum, Russia
apparently has valid counter claims
against the allies on account of
Intervention following the 1917
revolution,
Sum Is Near $SOO,OOO,OOO
AS to the American claims, PreSi-
dent Calvin Coolidge stated that all
the United States asks is recogni-
tion OF the KerenSky loans, amount
ing TO some $19O,OOO,0 900, plus the
miscellaneous claims of individual
Americans amounting to $3.50, 000,-
1000 gross.
This latter admittedly is high, de-
.liberately so fixed for bargaining
purposes if and when mixed
-claims commission finally meets to
adjust the amounts.
With interest, the total now is
roughly 100000, 900, less the con-
siderable amount of claims already
settled privately between Russia
and the American interests involved