Evening star., 1946-10-14

Idinary tests Of comparisons" Tin-
Land should pay only one-third q
much as Ronnania. and "perhAps'
one-hAh As much Is Hungary.
That she should be required 70
meet the rubber stamp figure Of
$500 900, 900 seems to us to be rli-
Just and tll-advised," J" Senator Van
denberg said.
He termed Finland's statement re-
questing reduction to 5000. .000, 900
q completely persuasive argument"
.sThe fact that Finland has COM
menced faithfully to pay at the
higher rate Is no exhibit to the con-
|trary; Finland has long and hon
orable and unhroken record OF
scrupulous fidelity to her fiscal OBJ
legations. !" he said.
Priced at 1888 Levels.
The burden on Finland. he said.
would be even greater than $780,
900 900 because the treaty stipulates
that commodities shipped In repara-
tons are to be priced -at their 1898
levels, with only 10 or Is per cent
Imarkup.
4The Finnish government has
estimated that this pricing process
means q total In reparations Of 417,-
900 900 In 1914 dollars and, at pres
ent prices. the estimate certainly
would be over $3.50 ,0O0. 600"
I'VE propose that article ~ be
rejected" he said, adding that the
United States had offered an
amendment In committee to reduce
the reparations to 5000 900 900 but
because Of a collision" with the
committee timetable the proposal
was rejected"
Winding up with senatorial elo-
quence In an impromptu addition
to his speech, interrupted by bursts
of applause, Senator Vandenberg
told the delegates:
"In some previous speeches today
the motives OF the United States in
this matter have been attacked in
pattern with which the confer
ence Is entirely too familiar.
"Mr. President, the United States
delegation will leave its motives to
the verdict of history in connection
with the winning Of the war and the
writing OF just peace.
1--WE decline to plead ~ defend
ants among allies to whom he have
given every ounce Of cooperation in
blood and treasure Of which q great
nation is capable.
But we shall continue, Mr.. Presi-
dent, to speak for the American
conception Of justice and fair play
In q better world toward which we
hope and pray for q rebirth Of the
sympathetic unity which made our
victory possible
Senator Vandenberg had been
slated is the final speaker. but
Chairman Quo Tai-chi Of China
called on him ahead Of time when
Mr.. Molotov said his own statement
was not ready and New Zealand
tentatively Withdrew from the
speakers list. After the Senator
finished. however, the chair an
nounced, Monsieur Molotov is, after
all, prepared to speak"
This left Senator vandenberg
sandwiched between proponents OF
the reparations figure, including Mr..
Bevin Of Great Britain-which like
Russia and unlike the United States
and France, was at war with Fin
land.
Mr.. Bevin said that when the
armistice with Finland was signed
by Russian and then by Britain, it
was intended that the Finnish peace
treaty should reproduce all the
features Of the armistice, which had
included $500. o.ooo, 900 reparations TO
Russia.
Mr.. Bevin expressed hope for the
restoration Of prewar Finland.
"It will be source Of satisfaction
to the British people," he said, ito
see again q free, vigorous and truly
democratic Finland. whose prosIss-
sive and enlightened policy and in
stitutions before the war aroused
keen admiration In my country and
elsewhere In the world"
Speaking for the first time since
the initial plenary sessions were sus-
pended for commission work. Mr..
Bevin went on to say that with the
conclusion of this last Of the i've
peace treaties" the conference was
ending its work.
I'VE now look ahead to the final
drafting Of the treaties in, New York