Evening star., 1936-12-01
WAR DEBT IS TOPIC
| IN TALK AT PARIS
Question "CasuaIIy Discuss
ed" by BuIlitt and French
Foreign Minister.
y the Associated Press.

y the Associated Press.
Acting Secretary of State Moore said
today Ambassador william c. Bullitt
had Casually discussed" the French
war debt question with Foreign Min
lister Yvon Delbos in Paris.
The conversations took place last
Saturday. but, Moore said. "there was
no specification Of the time or terms. "
France owes the United States
$4.06l .234. 900.
In a statement, Moore said:
For some time we have all noticed
press reports to the effect that the
French government desires to arrange
a settlement of the debts.
Last Sunday we received a cable
gram from Ambassador Bullitt men.
tioning a conversation he had with
DR.. Delbos, French minister for for
eign affairs, the day before, during
which several subjects were casually
discussed, among them the war debt.
Expressed Desire.
"Mr. Delbos expressed the desire
above mentioned, but did not indicate
If and when he would make an effort
to negotiate with the United States. or,
in that event. what proposal he would
or might make.
There was no specification Of the
time or terms. OF course, there was not
or could not be anything for Ambas-
sador Bullitt to communicate to the
State Department except what was
said by Mr.. Delbos as just stated.
1T cannot be too strongly said that
the conversations were marked by
nothing whatever in the way Of definite
proposals or opinions or even Of speci-
fications.
Not Able to Speak Ohicially.
Ambassador Bullitt has. Of course,
let it be understood that he Is not in q
position to discuss the debt officially
unless he should be authorized by this
Government and even then would not
be in q position to state or express any
opinion Of what would be the attitude
Of this Government toward any pro-
posal that might be submitted"
Other administration sources said
France had taken the initiative in ap-
preaching the United States on the
debt question and that conversations
were under way.
The acting Secretary of State an
nounced at the same time receipt of
word from Finland announcing its
intention to pay its regular semi-an-
nual war debt installment Of $751;
315 due December IS.
Finland Is the only one of 13 debtor
countries which has not detaulted at
any time.
Await Frances Reply.
Although State Department officials
were chary Of expressing any opinion
as to this Governments attitude
toward the informal French approach.
they looked forward with interest
toward the French governments reply,
due some time before December Is,
to the American Governments routine
reminder of debt installment falling
due on that date.
In its regular reminders sent to all
debtor nations the United States sets
forth that it will be glad to receive
any proposals for settlement which
the debtor nations may care to put
forward. 1t emphasizes, however. that
the American Congress has the sole
authority to pass on any such pro-
posals which might be made.
A short time after Moore issued his
statement, Senator Clark, Democrat
Of Missouri. predicted Congress woult
give sympathetic" consideration Il
French proposals for war debt settle.
ment, IF we have some assurance
that the new agreement actually will
be carried out"
Il am opposed to any further re.
duction in our foreign obligations un.
less We have positive guarantees O.
good faith" he declared.