PARTY SET ASIDE

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 68, 14 December 1931, Page 11

PARTY SET ASIDE

Congress & War Debts DEMOCRAT’S PROMISE Disarmament Question Vital By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright (Rec. December 13, 5.5 p.m.) Washington, December 12. An informal understanding was reached to-day between the Administration and Senate leaders that foreign Governments would not be considered at fault if their war debts payments due next week were not paid pending formal ratification of the one-year moratorium. The Under-Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. O. L. Mills, discussed t-ie situation with the leaders of both parties in the Senate. He said th* Secretary of State, Mr. H. L. Stimson, will deal with foreign Governments respecting their payments, but does not expect the Secretary to make any formal statement on the question. Representative Rainey, a Democratic leader, promised that the Democrats will not make the moratorium a party question. Mr. Rainey said he would vote against it, but the Democrats planned to leave it to individual members. He said he saw opposition from both the Republicans the Democrats. However, the House would act on the moratorium before Christmas' and send it to the Senate before Christmas. Marking Time Until February. Reduction In European armament was demanded on Friday by Senator Watson, of Indiana, Republican leader, in return for the revision of war debts, suggested by President Hoover. “Our people will never be satisfied to scale down war debts, much less forgive them, unless Europe shows some disposition to reduce her armament,” Senator Watson said. Senator Watson’s stand, coupled with the opposition of the chairman of the Foreign Committee, Senator Borah, is expected to check early action on the President’s proposal for a revival of the War Debts Commission. It is the obvious intention of Congressional leaders to hold up this move pending action in Europe at the February Disarmament Conference.