Evening star., 1933-01-23
Cabinet Members Will Take
Time for Thorough
Preparations.
RETURN TO GOLD BASIS
OPPOSED IN EDITORIALS
Bids to Other Debtors Urged.
Speculation on Personnel of
Mission Discouraged.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, January 23.-The Anglo
American conference at Washington
proposed by President Elect Roosevelt
for early in March has been widened in
scope to such an extent, according to
the British Interpretation of an aide
memorie given by Secretary Stimson to
the Ambassador at Washington, that
the British government has decided to
devote the utmost care to preparations
for it.
So important do Prime Minister Mac
Donald and his colleagues Of the ma
tional government consider Mr.. Roose-
velts proposals that it was decided at
today's cabinet session not to give for
NAL consideration to the American pro-
posals until the individual cabinet men,
bers have had an opportunity to study
the situation fully.
Linking debts to general world eco
ncmic problems. as Mr.. Stimson's in
vitation on behalf of Mr.. Roosevelt does,
Is considered a major development in
Anglo american problems.
The first problem arising is the exact
lldIulC VI Illc llloSlOu WAllSAI MI 1SOOoC-
welt desires to be sent to Washington,
whether it shall be made up Of cabinet
members or economic experts, or both,
and further communication win be nee
essary between the foreign Office and
the embassy at Washington.
Special Meeting Called.
The first stage of the British ap-
proach to the Washington conference
will be a detailed study by a special
cabinet committee, including the chan
cellor of the exchequer, of the whole
problem of the American war debts in
relation to the general world economic
situation. Only after this is completed
will there be cabinet discussion and
a decision on the general British policy
at Washington.
Opposition to the idea Of Great
Britain returning to the gold standard
was strongly featured in today's news
paper editorials after the week ends
digestion of the proposed negotiations.
Comments were based on Washington
dispatches suggesting the United States
may use the British debt as bargain
ing weapon to force this country back
on gold basis.
The London Times cordially welcomed
the American action but nevertheless,
shied at the idea Of restoring the gold
standard. 1t said:
THE hope of thereby providing
remedy for the evil of fuctuating cur
rency exchanges to the relief Of inter-
national trade is to confuse cause and
effect. Gold, being only counter. can
not be freely exchanged in international
finance unless there is freedom of
exchange in international trade
lob k1 iy,n hvr
attempt to mask the symptoms Of the
real disease, the breakdown of trade,
before finding effective remedies for the
causes which produced it."
Bid For All Debtors Urged.
The conservative Morning Post de-
clared making the stabilization Of the
pound the subject of bargaining would
be a most unfortunate development. 1t
further saw little hope for useful
result of the conference unless condi-
tions are first established for final
ratifieation of the Lausanne agreement
be established by a settlement of the
British debt alone" It urged the
United States to invite all its other
debtor nations to new negotiations Of
their debts
(The allies in Europe agreed at
Lausanne to reduce German repara-
tions to the equivalent of about / cent
on the dollar providing they received
similar concessions from the United
States)
Lord Rothermere's so-called "imperi-
alist" Daily Mail and the Labor
Socialist" Herald while favorably
commenting on the American action
both insist that it is impossible for
Great Britain to return to the gold
standard on the old basis.
Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald
was still considered one Of the most
likely choices to head the British mis-
sion to Washington, providing his
health and affairs here permit. Neville
Chamberlain, chancellor of the ex-
chequer, may be kept here because of
budget problems and Stanley Baldwin,
president of the council, because of the
unpopularity of the debt agreement he
negotiated in 1923. These and Walter
Runciman, president of the Board Of
Trade, however, were believed In line
for appointment to the mission.
Intricate Problems Faced.
The cabinet was not sure whether 1t
would be necessary to send two mis-
sions to the United States, one to deal
with debts and the other with general
economic problems. It was expected
the Ambassador at Washington might
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