COMMENT ON MESSAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 149, 21 December 1932, Page 9

COMMENT ON MESSAGE

POSITION INTERPRETED

PRESS APPROVAL

WASHINGTON, 19th December. In the opinion, of competent political observers here, President Hoover has made his last war debts revision gesture. The matter is now squarely before the President-elect, Mr. F. D. Koosevelt, either to accept the President's offer of co-operation in the formation ■of a to-partisan semi-Congres-sional Diplomatic Commission or, if he refuses it, to accept full responsibility himself after 4th March. In a message ho sent to ; Congress today, which even the Democrats admit is a broad;visioned, sound paper, President Hoover took into full consideration the Congressional aversion to sanctioning a debt commission. At the same time he strongly reiterated his contention that the matter is serious and requires immediate attention. The general tenor of statements by Democratic leaders indicates that Mr. Boosevelt will decline to co-operate. Keports from Albany indicate that he still favours negotiations through existing" diplomatic agencies and will take no responsibility before his inauguration as President. Thas Mr. Hoover must either on his personal initiative appoint a commission or'withdraw from the matter. Which course he will take is problematical, but it is recognised that it is very doubtful if Britain, for example, would wish to enter into negotiations-with a commission whose authority would automatically terminate scarcely more than two months hence. Mr. Hoover's method of linking debts to other phases of the world economic situation is generally approved in Congressional circles, where it is felt that the nation should receive some concessions in disarmament and trade in, rutura for revision. ; But the Democrats feel that Mr. Eoosevelt should assume no responsibility which might commit the party to a programme which later events might cause to be disapproved. They seemed willing, though, to let Mr. Hoover form a commission to "ex-

plore" the situation, reserving the right to act on suggestions as they see fit. Mr. Hoover's mention of an examination of the debt obligations of those nations which "sought to pay" is interpreted as meaning the small nations such as Greece and Hungary, and also ■France if she soon makes good her' default. It is generally agreed that Britain would be the first to benefit from any re-examination. The Press has generally approved the message, a number of newspapers emphasising the necessity of dealing with all international economic difficulties as well as debts. Many admit ,the difficulty of getting complete co-operation between Congress, Mr. Hoover, and Mr. Roosevelt, but view the Note as a step in the right direction.