Evening star., 1938-02-18
By ]. RUSSELL YOUNG.

BY }. RUSSELL YOUNG.
President Roosevelt is giving con-
sideration to a plan to provide new
formula for solving the war debt
problem.
Mr.. Roosevelt said today he had dis
cussed the subject with various per-
sons over period of months and
that Yesterday it was touched on
briefly at a conference with . group
of administrative and congressional
advisers.
The Presidents comment supplied
the first official confirmation of ru-
mors that new war debt proposals
were being considered. He discussed
the subject very briefly at his press
conference but indicated. that any
form OF solution in the near future is
unlikely.
The impression is that the President
Is aiming to link a readjustment of
the war debts with reciprocal trade
agreements, particularly in the case Of
Great Britain.
1t Is understood Mr. Roosevelt got lit
tie encouragement from the congress
sional leaders attending yesterdays
conference. Reports to this effect are
That the congressional group advised
against attempting any war debt ad-
justment 1t this time, particularly in
view Of the antipathy on the part of
many on Capitol Hill toward the ad-
ministration's present foreign policy.
Garner At Conference.
In the congressional group at this
conference were Vice President Gar
ner. Senator Pat Harrison of Missis-
sippi, chairman of the Senate Finance
Committee. apd Representative Dough-
ton OF North Carolina. chairman of
the House Ways and Means Commit
tee. The administrative advisers who
sat IN during this conference were
Secretary Of State Hull, Herbert Feis.
state Department economic adviser,
and Daniel w. Bell. acting director of
the budget.
1t is realized that the primary task
facing Joseph P. Kennedy, the newly
appointed Ambassador, will be to
work out a satisfactory trade agree
ment with Great Britain, and in
formed authorities feel confident the
debt question will necessarily be more
or less OF a factor in bringing about
an agreement between these two coun-
tries in the matter of reciprocal tar
ifs.
Mr.. Kennedy was sworn in as Am
bassador to the Court of st. James in
the Presidents Office today. The oath
was administered by Associate Justice
Stanley Reed of the Supreme Court.
After brief exchange of fluctuations
with the recent court appointee, Mr..
Kennedy hurried away saying he ex-
pected to sail early next week. Mr..
Kennedy already has had his diplo-
matte instructions from Secretary
Hull and was closeted with the Presi-
dent on two evenings this week.
Leaves Capital Today.
President Roosevelt was kept busy
at his desk today preparatory to leav-
ing Washington this afternoon to
spend several days at his mothers
AAoLIC a. 11yNC Z al n, ~. L. llC EICSe
ident expects to return to Washing
ton next Wednesday morning. He said
it was his aim to do as little work
as possible while he was away, get a
complete rest and enjoy motoring
about the nearby countryside.
The President had a long list of
callers and in addition his desk was
piled with routine papers requiring
his attention before departing from
the city. Among his callers were Sen
ators Ellender of Louisiana, Hayden
of Arizona and Reames of Oregon,
the latter being recently appointed to
the Senate to succeed Senator Steiwer
who resigned.
The President also received a dele
CATION representing the National
Peace Conference, including Prof.
Charles G. Fenwick of Bryn Mawr,
Miss Henrietta Roeloffa, J. Max Weiss,
representing the World Peaceways;
Mrs. Florence Boeckel, representing
the National Council for the Preven-
ton of war; Dr. Walter Van Kirk,
director of the National Peace Confer
ence, and William r. Stone, repre-
senting the Foreign Policy Associa-
tiOn.