The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-06-14
A Debtors Stand

An English friend sends The Trib-
une q clipping from the London Eve
ming Dispatch in which AN Old
stager" discusses the debt question
from . British angle. AS may be
expected, he takes an entirely diff
ferent attitude than that which
might be expected from an American
writer. ".-.
II space permitted, the whole ar
ticle would be worth reprinting,
merely that We here In the middle
west, where the demand for collec-
ton Of the war debts has been keen
est, might understand the attitude Of
the defaulting nations.
Referring to Britain's proposal to
cancel off all the debts, made shortly
after the war by Lord Reading, the
writer points out that Reading then
predicted every evil that nice in
sistenoe on war debts and the exact
pound Of flesh has since brought up
on the world. Our arguments, our
pleas, fell on deaf ears across the
Atlantic and America marched in
righteous financial exactitude straight
into her bread queues"
Again, speaking Of President Roose-
velt's position and attitude. he re-
marks: 1T is the tragedy Of die
tator by democratic consent that to
lead, he also must follow. To have
his own way In certain affairs, he
must needs let the mob have its way
In others.
.. That We have been saddled
with burdens such as America does
not dream Of makes no odds to the
average American. He howls for his
pound Of flesh and forces even Presi-
dent Roosevelt to play the role OF
the Merchant Of Washington
There are other references to
shakespeare's great play in the use
Of the word "shylock' and the whole
argument IS epitomized In the SEN
tence: American public opinion,
which no president dare ignore or
flout, insists upon q stupendous
crime against Europe to its own
American undoinR."
This, the British public is assured,
would not be the case II Intelligent
opinion" were to prevail in the Unit
ID States but the middle east and
middle west will not stand for can
collation. and 50 America continues
In the role Of ''remorseless money
lending shark"
We can grant, for the sake of ar
gument, everything our British cou-
sin says and still justify our insist
enoe upon collection OF the debts: If
We. rs he says, are perpetrating
crime against Europe by insisting
upon collection, we are at least
throwing our weight against great
Or crime when We do 50. for with the
debt situation cleared by cancellation
the next war in Europe would be
brought appreciably nearer.
Grant that Uncle shylock'' is just
mean. old ney-grabber, he is an
influence for peace because he brings
home to our late comrades in arms
the fact that war is an expensive bus
ines, the cost Of which cannot be
passed along to the neighbors.
The Englthman's view Of this is
slightly different, even though it
looks definitely toward the next war.
Here 1t is: THAT Germany should
b forgiven her debts In order to re-
arm for another war, whilst Amer
icas late allies ruin themselves in
paying back America what America
more than owed them when she came
into the war. would be too absurd"
There you have 1t.
The result should be to make
America stand more firm than ever
tor collection Of these debts-or at
least against cancellation.
The presumption Is, also, that we
owed them the blood Of the 5O,-
900 American boys who died in the
war.
II England and the rest Of our
Ate allies want to take that attitude
Me shame Is theirs.
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