Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-01-10
LAVAL INSISTS j. S.
MADE DEBT PLEDGE
Says Hoover, UnWittingIy or
Otherwise; Included Repa-
rations in Agreement.
Continued From First Page.)

Continued From First Page.)
in another explosive debate, with war
debts touching off the powder.
Biting words. caustic denials and
ignored formalities characterized the
exchange between the two foes. The
core of it was an assertion by johnson
that the Idahoan had withheld peril
nent information from his colleagues
when the Hoover moratorium was be-
fore the Senate.
Borah first took the floor to repeat
statements he made week ago, that
the administration had reached an
understanding with Premier Laval of
France in 1881 on some form of debts
reconsideration.
Answered Cabinet Letters.
Borah's reiteration of his assertions
followed the placing into the Senate
record of letters from Secretaries Slim
son and Mills, in which they denied
that any cancellation or revision COM
mitments were made at that time.
Then the Californian arose and took
Borah to task for not revealing to the
Senate what information he had when
the moratorium proposal was pending.
To that Borah replied that he as
sumed johnson kept himself informed"
but in the future he would start
kindergarten"
"All right" the stocky California SEN
atoS retorted. Il trust the Senator
win"
He will have the Senator from Cali
fornia for the first student" Borah re-
turned.
He will have kindergarten which
the Senator from Idaho has not OBJ
served in this discussion" said john
son. 1T will be a kindergarten of dis
closure and of good faith"
In the exchange, which was one of
the sharpeSt in recent Senate history,
Borah asserted all his information could
have been obtained from public records
and the press and that during the Sen
ate consideration of the moratorium he
had expressed his views to newspaper
men.
Not so, sir" johnson countered.
and later said: "Of course he (Borah)
possessed a wealth of information upon
this subject that the rest of us do not
possess and he locks it in his own heart
during the debate upon the mora
torium."
That is absolutely without founda-
ton in fact" the Idahoan heatedly
replied.
As one of the final thrusts, johnson
told the Senate:
Il grant him anything he desires in
the unlimited wisdom. he attributes to
himself. I accord that readily and he
has it. But for the love of Heaven If
fight upon the debts and he knows
anything about them, let him tell his
colleagues and tell the American peo-
pie"
Not Defending French.
Borah emphasized that he was not
defending Frances default of her De-
cember obligations and Johnson as
serted that the Stimson and Mills let
tiers did not impress him as cate
gorical or any other denial" of a debts
understanding with the French.
Further on, johnson pressed his
question whether Borah had spoken
during the moratorium fight.
Il uttered it (my views) to the pub
lie press" the Idahoan said
Johnson returned the utterly with
out foundation" statement when Borah
said he knew nothing about the debt
situation at the time that johnson did
not know, If the latter desired to read
the public press and documents.
1T is not in keeping with the Sem
ator from Idaho to sit mute and silent
during the discussion of such question
as the moratorium" johnson said.
The Stimson and Mills letters were
placed in the record earlier in the day
by Senator Moses. Republican, of New
Hampshire, on behalf of Senator Reed,
Republican of Pennsylvania. who last
week took issue with Borah on the
Hoover-Laval conference results.
Stimson's letter said mo cancellation
or revision of either debts or reparations
was proposed" by President Hoover or
Premier Laval" he added:
mo assurances or commitments on
such subject was either asked for or
given. The communique given out at
the close of these discussions was an
accurate statement of the discussion
in all these respects"
In like vein, Mills communication
said there was mo Justification for any
assertion or belief that during the
course of those conversations any assur-
ance. direct or indirect. was given
that there would be revision of French
debt obligations to the United States
in consideration of revision of Ger
took place at Lausanne"
Despite the two letters, Borah argued
"it was perfectly plain that the ques-
ton Of debts was discussed at length
between Hoover and Laval"
Can't Justify Default.
ct is plain" he added, that there
was an understanding there would be
a reconsideration of debts in some form. |
Ac IN Iofiy,ifn 10 ~
know"
Does the Senator think enough was
said between the President and the
premier to justify France in default
ing?" asked Senator Watson, of Indiana,
the Republican leader
NO" Borah replied, IT do not. The
sound position was taken by Premier |
Herriot. He commended there had been |
such negotiations to justify asking an
extension, but said he would not sup
port default, regardless of what took |
place in the past
He was overriden by the chamber |
speaking the popular will of France |
1t was this popular sentiment of France
to which I referred last week These
negotiations had created the opinion
among the people of France that If |
there was readjustment of repara-
tons there would be reconsideration
of debts.
But it was not justification for their |
refusal to pay. 1t was sufficient justi- |
fication for France to ask for reconsid- |
Grafton"
Borah then quoted from the Hoover |
Laval communicate, which said: I'VE
recognize prior to the expiration of the |
Hoover (moratorium) year some agree |
ment may be necessary covering the |
period OF the depression"
Nov. what effect would that have
on the French people?" he inquired
Johnson said there was mo excuse" |
for foreign nations to claim a misunder- |
standing, in view of the amendment |
q tfached To the morn torillr,n resolution