The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-10-09
u. S. Sees War Ahead as Nazis
Insist on Right to Re-Arm;
Chance of Collecting Debts Dim
Negotiations at Capital
Made Crucial by Ger
man Action.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
Scripps- Howard Foreign Editor


negotiations at Washington and the
disarmament parley at Geneva to-
day entered a crucial period against
a world background blacker and
more streaked with lightning than
at any time since 1914.
While Sir Frederick Leith-Ross,
representing the British, and Dean
Acheson, treasury under secretary,
chief negotiator for this country,
were engaged in their first real dis
cussion of Britain's $4,600,O00,0 900
debt to the United States, very deep
concern reigned at the state depart
ment over events 5000 miles away.
Nazi Germany's apparent deter
nination to obtain arms equality
with France and her other neigh
bors at once, or wreck the Geneva
conference, is regarded here as
bringing the world face to face with
its gravest major crisis since the
World war.
Agree With Henderson
officials are inclined to agree with
Arthur Henderson, British chairman
of the disarmament conference, who
told the United Press that unless a
real arms convention is adopted
shortly a new armament race would
start and "the world would be
headed straight for war"
The United States, through Nor
man H. Davis, ambassador Large,
is making its full force felt at &C.
neva to obtain such a convention.
On the one hand, it has made
known to Berlin its unalterable OPP
position to Germanys rearmament,
while it has urged upon France the
necessity for maximum concessions
to Germany.
Now or Never, Says U. S.
Washington's position is that it
is now or never. Unless Germany
care be brought within some gen
eral arms limitation agreement very
soon, she will proceed to rearm.
France, in turn, confronted by
the inevitabiIity of one day having
to face a new Germany, armed to
the teeth, in sheer Self-defense
would be led to strike before Ger
many became invincible.
While this view is being urged
upon the nations directly concerned,
and with the utmost earnestness,
the United States has no intention
of joining the European powers in
anything smacking Of a threat to
Germany for violation Of the treaty
of Versailles.
Closely Associated
Though it might seem far cry
from the war talk in Europe to
the conversations going on today
at the United States Treasury build
ing here, the two really are closely
associated.
If the disarmament conference
goes on the rocks and a new race
for weapons begins, as predicted,
every centime France, Italy, Bel
GUM, Poland and the rest of Europe
can raise will be required for ma
tional defense.
There is not a government in
Europe that would dare add an
other extra penny to the bent backs
of already grumbling taxpayers for
the purpose of paying the United
States-even if the debtor naticAs
wanted to pay, which frankly tfGy
do not.
Collection Hopes Fading
Great Britains position is not
vastly different from the others.
Her leaders are convinced of the
likelihood of a new war in Europe.
The war fever almost certainly
would spread to the Far East and
involve Russia and Japan.
India and other British interests
would be in peril, not to mention
the United Kingdom itself Thus,
Britain will not only pay further in
stallments under the present debt
arrangement, but will refuse to COM
nit herself to the payment of any
thing more than a few cents on the
dollar, at most, in any new settle
ment.
Behind the scenes here, therefore,
it is admitted that whatever chance
the United States ever had of COL
lecting Europe's 100000 war
debt to this country, today seems
fast fading.