The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-04-26

last December will not be repeated.
Neither Premier Macdonald nor
former Premier Herriot has prom
ised to pay the June Is installment.
President Roosevelt has not prom
ised to postpone or otherwise defer
the $144,0O0,0OO payments. But in
American, British and French
circles, the writer has been in
formed on competent authority,
everybody is saying significantly:
I'VE are not going to go to war
over it,"
President Scores Victory.
1t is conceded that the President
has scored a signal diplomatic VIC
tory in RELOCATING the war debts to
their proper position.
Not only have they been thrust
back, but they actually appear in
secondary position to the money
problem, tariff reform, exchange
restrictions, trade revival and relief
for the worlds 100000 jobless.
Moreover, it is observed, start
ling transformation has come over
Europe's spokesman in dealing with
these same war debts.
And it was Prime Minister Rich
ard B. Bennett, Canada's conserva-
tive, but straight-to-the-point, en-
voy to the White House conference,
who put his finger on the answer
Immediately after his arrival. Said
he:
I'VE have reached a point where
1T is certain that nothing but united
action can avert world disaster. The
forthcoming international confer
ence cat London makes world &C
ton possible. The duty of every
country is to make it certain.
Immediate Action Imperative
Immediate action is imperative.
If we do not defeat the forces of
disruption and discord. they will de-
feat us. We must act boldly and
unSelfshly. The goodwill and
good-faith which the nations of the
world so often have proclaimed
must be translated into action. 1t
may be our last chance.
In the main, our economic sys-
tenn has served us we'll. 1t does not
work with it's old-time efficiency. 1t
must be examined carefully, and adj
juSted to new conditions.
I'VE must not seek excuses for in
action. We must not pause to bal
ance too carefully each item of ma
tional profit and loss. In debating
the means we must not lose sight of
the common ends. Otherwise, we
will be the certain witnesses of the
wreck of our civilization"
Premier Bennett was not discuss
ing war debts nor any isolated prob
lem in particular when he uttered
his warning. Canada owes the
United States nothing on war debts.
The Canadian statesman is here
to offer this country reciprocal tar
ifs, and the chance of closer and
more profitable trade relations with
his country.
Money Farley Success Seen
But his clear phrases were likened
to star-shell bursting over the
pitch-black no-mans-land of the
war debt situation, making every
detail stand out, startlingly clear.
The World war debt DEVELOPMENTS
are seen as the most dramatic of
the conference.
World statesmen, like specialists
in a sick-room, appear chastened
and subdued
The big job admittedly is to pre-
vent Premier Benefits vision of a
wrecked civilization" from coming
true. Comparatively minor issues
like war debts, it is said, must, and
will, come after.
1t reliably was stated here today
that the world monetary and econo-
mic conference now stands a good
chance of getting somewhere. And
no nation, whether it be the United
States, Great Britain France or
any other, is prepared to take the
onus of wrecking that chance in
order to gain some selfish, or ma
tional, advantage.