Evening star., 1932-11-10
BRITAIN MAY DELAY
DEBT PAYMENT TO
u. S. NEXT MONTH
Proposal Expected to Show
Difficult Position, Though
Ready to Toe Mark.

LONDON, November 10 DIT
was learned this evening that a
British note on the subject of debts
was delivered today by the British
Ambassador to Secretary of State
Stimson in Washington.
No further information was avail
able here. probably because it was
not certain whether the American
Government was willing to have
the contents of the note made pub
lie.
BY the Associated Press
LONDON, November 1o.-The Daily
Mail said today that an important COM
munication to the United States Gov
ernment would probably be sent shortly
wherein Great Britain's willingness to
pay her war debt installment due De-
cember Is would be reStated. but her
difficult position would be pointed out.
The newspapers story was one of
several which enyisaged a possible sus-
pension of Britains debt installment as
a result of the American presidential
election. The subject is much talked
about in political quarters, but so far
officials have refused to comment.
Predicts Non-Payment.
The Daily Herald gave great pre-
ponderance to a statement by its par
lamentary correspondent, who claimed
to have been informed by high official
circles" that it was exceedingly improb-
able the installment would be paid. for
there was strong likelihood OF a post
ponement by mutual consent
The newspapers correspondent said
hot hntu
Britain and the United States might be
opened with view to putting the debt
on a commercial basis He stated that
it is proposed to scale down the debt
and float low-interest international
loan in London, Paris and New York to
meet the American claim.
Recent Farley Cited.
References were made in several
newspapers to reported recent Anglo
American conversations looking toward
some arrangement The Daily Mail
cited the conversations which Prime
Minister Ramsay Macdonald and Sir
John Simon, foreign minister, held re-
Gently with Norman Davis, American
disarmament representative, in London.
1t was suggested in some quarters
that the change of administration in
the United States need not necessarily
interfere with any arrangement which
might have been discussed up to now,
The Daily Herald suggested that Presi-
dent Hoover might conduct negotiations
in consultation with President-elect
Roosevelt.
The Times said that if Roosevelt
failed to discover the causes Of the de-
preston and apply appropriate rene
dies, he would De condemned as had
Hoover.
Help for All Seen.
IF he succeeds" the Times went on,
"he will not only save his own country
from its distress, but will also help solve
the problem which is perplexing clvlll-
cation"
The British government officially
voiced the opinion yesterday that the
drastic reduction in reparations recently
agreed upon in Europe should now be-
come possible"
The official expression came from
Stanley Baldwin of the British cabinet,
speaking before the lord mayors ban
quet last night in place OF Prime Min
lister Ramsay Macdonald. Mr.. Bald
win said:
TT is essential to the world that
ratification of the Lausanne settlements
on reparations should now become pos
sible, and the work begun there should
be completed"
Need u. S. Assistance.
"The gentlemen's agreement" at Lau-
same last Summer provided that the
accord cutting Germany's war repara-
tions payment to bonded $714,00o,000
must depend on a lenient attitude by
creditor nations. The United States is
the chief creditor nation.
Mr. Baldwin said he wished the Lau-
same reparations success had been evi-
dent at the Geneva Disarmament Con-
ference, and declared the time had
come when Great Britain could proceed
no longer with unilateral disarmament.
The speaker said the Hoover disarma-
ment proposals for nearly one-third
cut in arms we're in many ways &C
ceptable to Great Britain. He also
said the government was standing by all
its obligations to the League OF Nations.