Evening star., 1932-12-20

namely, tnat the American delegation
to this committee or conference Will
have no power to conclude anything
Premier Paul -Boncour must. then, con-
slider whether he will temporize. await
ing this general debate, or embark upon
the multiple and complex negotiations
to which there is no possible issue be-
fore next March.
Under the circumstances" 1t asked,
what is the usefulness of an experts
committee susceptible to transform it
self into a vast international consul
tation?"
Herriot Papers Comment.
Ere Nouvelle, the organ Of EXPIRE
mier Heriot, said the Hoover message
"flatters the debtors who paid, but lays
down the principle that any reduction
of the debt involves compensation"
(The message said debts would be re-
viewed only with nations who have
sought to maintain their obligations
to us.O
The Nationalist Echo De Paris called
the message academic"
The Hoover message was coupled with
Senator Borah's proposal Tor world
conference ON armaments. money ana
wer debts by the Socialist party organ.
POpulaire, It concluded that President
Hoover linked debt cancellation" with
disarmament. (The President reiter-
ated opposition to debt cancellation,
although suggesting q review OF the
problemD
IF Europe wants the United States
to cancel intergovernmental debts, there
must be an early general convention for
substantial reduction OF armaments,
the Socialist paper further interpreted.
Then it asked. viii our rulers hear
President Hoover's swan song?"
The message was expected to have
most important bearing on the tenor OF
the debts statement to be made public
Thursday. This statement will be In
cluded in the ministerial platform to be
presented to the Chamber of Deputies.
A vote will be requested from the
Chamber to decide whether the cabinet
will continue in power.
Reliable sources said the new cabinet
might favor an examination OF Frances
debts from a world economic standpoint,
along the lines proposed by Mr.. Hoover.
The cabinet was not expected to ask
the Chamber to reconsider its vote post
poning the December payment, which
many responsible leaders now view as
Some officials questioned whether the
machinery proposed by Mr.. Hoover for
international dealings would apply to
France because Of the view that the
December payment was . separate
technical problem.
Many quarters anticipated a stand
would be taken by the Paul-BOncour
cabinet for study Of the problem by an
international economic commission.
Semi onicial Reaction.
Semi Official reaction to President
Hoover's message to Congress Is that 1t
harmonizes in interesting ways with the
projected French plan suggesting re-
vision of debts by founding revision
study on the American note to France
of December g.
A French spokesman repeated that
any examination by experts should be
within the framework of the American
note and along the line Of its state
ment that the President of the United
States Is prepared through whatever
agency may seem @ noR appropriate au,.rnneo+ to CO.
in surveying the entire situation" and
that there are mutual advantages
which should be thoroughly explored"
Frenchmen find confirmation for such
ideas in Mr.. Hoover's message, when he
says, for example, that discussion Of the
debts Is necessarily connected with
solution of the major problems in the
world" It was automatically learned
that the French plan. makes the eco
nomic elements the dominant factor in
any survey. Presumably the French
conception of how to handle the debts
will be made known to Washington
soon. The indications are that the gov
ernment Is embarrassed as to how to
handle the question OF the December
interest.
Early Agreement Favored.
From a practical standpoint 1t is be-
lieved France could without great diff
Guilty find the money to pay the Decem-
Der interest.
Provision for the interest payment
appeared in the budget for 1892, but, 1t
was stated in parliamentary circles to-
day. it was Withdrawn on the recon-
mendation particularly of the Finance
Committee until such time as it could
be definitely determined whether there
was any likelihood of the Hoover mora
torium being prolonged.
The atmosphere in political circles
continued clearly in favor of reaching
an agreement with the United States
as soon as possible.