LINCOLN'S SPIRIT.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17997, 14 February 1924, Page 11

LINCOLN'S SPIRIT.

WITH AMERICA STILL. ; PRESIDENT'S TRIBUTE TO BRITAIN.

(by cable—press association coftwoht.) (AUSTRALIAN AS D X.». CABLE ASSOCIATION., NEW YORK, February 11. President Coolidgo, in a Lincoln birthday speech, said: "Our Government wants peace everywhere. do not believe in great armaments. Wt are especially opposed to competitive armaments, and while the present does not appear propitious for a further effort towards limitation, yet should a European settlement be accomplished tho United States will stand ready to join the other Great Powers, whenever there appears a reasonable prospect of an agreement respecting further limitation of armaments. "The British debt settlement was one of the greatest financial transactions. It had a world-wide effect- on business confidence. It demonstrated the determination of a great Empire faithfully to discharge international obligations. It is an exhibition of tho highest typo of international honour. It showed tho moral standards of tho world were going to bo maintained.

"Since August, 1919, tho United States public debt has been decreasing, and about 4,C00,000 dollars liavfc been paid off. It is of the utmost importance, in order to bo abl© to meet approaching foreign competition and keep business good and prevent depression, that we should reduce our dobt and keep our expenditure as low a 9 poss*le.

"The prospect of a European settlement holds some promise. Any settlement doubtless would requiro financial aid, which would bo doubtful of success without American participation. The export of such capital as is not required for domestic business, but which would increase American foreign business, should be encouraged. "Wa are deeply humiliated at tho revelations of such gross betrayal of trust in referenoe to the oil scandals; but there will be an immediate, unshrinking prosecution and punishment of th® guilty." President Coolidge, in concluding, said: "Lincoln's moral force is still with us. 'He that keopeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.' "