The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-07-25
Cancellation of Debts
Scottish Rite News Bureau

! N0SoeeAo1L 4OlIC 1NCNS DUEGduD
The general impression is that the
position of the United States Govern
ment regarding war debts and repair
atoms has not varied since the state
ment was made by President Hoover
last year to the effect that he was
opposed to the cancellation of war
debts but feels that the question must
be viewed in the capacity of a debtor
to pay.
According to the Lausanne agree
ment, GermanyS final reparations
payment was established at $780,
100000, quite reduction from the
original amount of $64,O0O,0OO 900.
But this agreement is conditioned on
the expectation that the United tates
will be equally generous in the re-
duction or cancellation of the war
debts.
Most people consider that the mat
ter OF separations is distinctly a re-
suit OF the war that involved so many
OF the nations, while they do not be-
| lleve that the war debts" so-called
can be thus classified. It will be re-
membered that large portion of these
debts was for moneys advanced and
supplies furnished since the war to
some of the debtor governments. 1t
must not be forgotten that when the
debt settlements were arranged the
United States scaled down the
amount of the debts very perceptibly.
AS it now stands, it appears that
the next move has been put up to the
United States, thus placing the res
possibility on this Government for
the hoped-for settlement of the rep
arations matter 1t seems to be a
question of how far the United States
is prepared to go in revising Euro
pean war debts, in view of Euro
pean revision of reparations. If the
Congress of the United States does
not recede from the position it has
adopted, then there is very little pos
slbllity OF this Government revising
the European war debts in accord
ance with what it Is apparent the
European nations desire.
But while this agreement was being
decided upon at Lausanne, the same
great world powers were comforting
at Geneva IN regard to disarmament,
but with no generous impulse dis
played to accede to President Hoov-
ers proposal that all nations cut their
ornaments by one-third. Many
people think that inasmuch as the
majority of the nations are advocat-
Ing peace, why do they not agree to
such a cut in ornaments and apply
the moneys that would be expended
therefor on the reduction of their
war debts.
Senator j. Hamilton Lewis of Him
OILS urged that the United States de-
cline all future invitations to disarm-
ament conferences and charged that
the most recent one had failed be-
cause European nations wished it to
fail. 1T Is plain" he said, that war
is contemplated between certain of
the nations whose delegates were
assembled. that each knows the as
sumed cause OF the approaching con-
flict: and each is contemplating and
for this conflict. The real
object Is that through the results now
disclosed at Geneva to leave the
United States in the position where it
cannot offer mediation as an agent
recognized at Geneva, and where it
will be compelled to refrain from any
action of Intervention on the ground
that 1t is q neutral nation, as it is
neither a member Of the League of
Nations nor now recognized at Gen.
eva as delegate either Of influence
or authority"