CONCESSION TO BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 50, 22 November 1932, Page 9

CONCESSION TO BRITAIN

War Debts Payments MR. HOOVER’S DESIRE An Immediate Reduction CONGRESS UNFAVOURABLE (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.— Copyright.) (Received Nov. 21, 7.15 p.m.) Washington, Nov, 20. It is authoritatively intimated that President Hoover, while probably informing the Allies that the war debt payments, due on December 15, must be met, plans to ask the Presi-dent-elect, Mr, F. D. Roosevelt, at their conference on Tuesday to join him in urging upon Congressional leaders the re-creation of the Debt Commission. If lift fails to obtain his successor’s approval he may, nevertheless, incorporate such a recommendation in his annual message to Congress on December 5. Although Congress ignored a similar recommendation a year ago in the President’s moratorium message, Mr. Hoover, it is known, would like to effect some arrangements before the end of his term of office whereby Britain, if not other debtors, would obtain an immediate reduction in the payments due to the United States. He feels that such a concession Is deserved, because Britain originally settled on the basis of being the debtor most able to pay and is now regarded as being in a much less favourable economic position than France or other important debtor nations. There Is much sentiment In Congress, echoed by Senator Watson to-night, favouring a reduction of the British debt, but with other nations also seeking a downward revision there appears to be little chance of favourable action on any of the proposals from the present Congress when It reassembles.