TERMS ACCEPTED

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 105, 27 January 1933, Page 9

TERMS ACCEPTED

Discussion of War Debt BRITISH REPLY TO U.S. Exclusion of World Problems RESERVATION NOTED By Telegraph—Press Assn.— Copyrirht (Received, Jan. 26, 8.20 p.m.) Washington, Jan. 25. Great Britain to-day accepted President-elect Roosevelt’s terms for discussion of her war debt, but made a reservation against deciding what questions should be considered by the World Economic Conference until a general meeting of all nations to be represented there. The British reply was delivered at the State Department Mule a debate was in progress in the Senate which indicated that if been any yielding in Congressional opposition to cancellation or re revision of the debt it is st small proportions. The British Ambassador, sir Ronald Lindsay, handed to the State, Mr. H. L. Stimson, a message from his Majesty’s Government to Mr. Roosevelt. In this message hs Majesty’s Government states that it will be happy to send a representative or representatives to Washington f s soon as possible after March 4 to discuss the American debt question. It will be glad to exchange views with Mr. Roosevelt on other world economic problems in which the two Governments are interested. Decisions on questions which will form the agenda of the World Economic Conference and in which many other States are concerned, naturally cannot be reached before discussions have taken place at the conference between all the States represented there. The feature of the British Note likely to cause the greatest controversy Is the clause virtually excluding discussion on important world economic problems during the debt negotiations. However, it is pointed out that if the British Note is yague concerning this important feature the Hoover-Roose-velt communique is equally vague upon The Note dispatched from London tended to substantiate the opinion held by many that Britain wishes to divorce debt conversations from such problems as gold, trade, etc. Keeping Touch With Congress. z

Late to-day it was revealed that Mr. Roosevelt is attempting to form a Congressional committee to keep touch between himself and Congress regarding opinion on debts and other matters. Id is believed that this would at least in a measure serve the same purpose as having Congressmen on a commission to negotiate on the debts, which President iloover favoured and Mr. Roosevelt rejected. Mr. Stimson telephoned the text of the acceptance note to Mr. Roosevelt at Wurm Springs, but the Presidentelect’s reaction is not disclosed. Some officials have expressed the view that a reply might not be made, and the situation allowed to remain in status quo until the next Administration starts negotiation with Britain. Debated in Senate. A debate on the war debts -again broke out in the Senate. It was started by a Republican member violently objecting to a rumour that an emissary of Mr. Roosevelt was now in Europe negotiating with various Governments. Democrats vigorously denied the rumour, which Mr. Roosevelt later denied officially from Warm Springs. Senatoi- Johnson denounced the British position and read a dispatch quoting Mr. Neville Chamberlain's speech at Leeds. He added: “The American declaration that debts and reparations are not linked has absolutely no effect upon our British brethren.” Opposition to Reduction. Representaitve Henry Rainey, of Illinois, Democratic floor leader, predicted to newspapermen that “no reduction or cancellation of war debts” would result from the conference to be held after Mr. Roosevelt takes office. “The American people are not going to stand for reduction in the debts,” he said. “The debt conferences should be linked with the World Economic Conference. The thing to do is to bring, about the removal of ..Jnternational trade barriers so that trade can be revived. The conferences already projected hold the only possibility of opening up trade routes and giving debtors a chance to pay.” Comment on Chancellor's Speech.

Press opinion is-geuerally cool toward Mr. Neville Chamberlain’s speech at Leeds.

The “New York Times” says that he developed no new arguments, but merely repeated old ones in a solemn official manner. The “Herald-Tribune,” in a leader headed “Time for Silence,” said that Mr. Chamberlain was not really speaking to the Leeds Chamber of Commerce; he was speaking to the American people. “.Most thoughtful Americans already agree with a great deal of Mr. Chamberlain's argument,” it says, "while those who do not are unlikely to be converted by having the British Chancellor of the Exchequer explain to them how stupid they are.” The .opinion is expressed that the discussion hits gone beyond the point where statesmen could hope to influence t<he public opinion of other countries, and that opinions could better be converted through ordinary diplomatic negotiations. FRANCE’S POSITION Exclusion Through Default Paris,;, Jan. 25. The Premier, M. Paul Boncour, received the British and United States Ambassadors; and discussed the situation arising from the fact that France was excluded from the Anglo-American negotiations on the ground that she had not paid her last instalment. M. Boncour urged that the United States realise the advisability that all countries should be represented at the debt negotiations at Washington..