BELGIAN WAR DEBT

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 270, 20 August 1925, Page 9

BELGIAN WAR DEBT

NEGOTIATIONS WITH UNITED STATES FINAL AGREEMENT FOR REFUNDING By Telegraph—Press Association CoPvaiGU-i Washington, August 18. The Debt Commission on Tuesday reached a final agreement for the refunding of the Belgian War Debt. All interest on the money lent to Beliuin during the war wi.fi be foregone. Belgium will be allowed to repay 171,000,000 dollars loaned during t l *- war over a period of 62 years. The balance, pproximately 246,000,000 dollars, loaned after the Armistice, must be reaid during the same period, with inerest at 3-4 per cent, after the first ten years.—Aus.-N.Z. Cab-.e Assn. FRENCH INTEREST IN THE NEGOTIATIONS (Rec. August 19, 7.30 p.m.) London, August 19. The news of the Belgian debt agreement reached London from \V ashington too late for comment. The “Morning Post’s” Paris correspondent earlier stated that France was watching the Washington negotiations with the most intense interest. She realised that the settlement must have a direct influence on her own problem. France now recognises that neither sentimental nor political arguments will have the least influence on the Americans, who will insist on treating the debt question with no • more idealism than is usual in business relations.— Aus.-N.Z.' Cable Assn.