WAR DEBTS

Evening Star, Issue 19025, 21 August 1925, Page 5

WAR DEBTS

BELGIAH-AMERICAK SETTLEMENT BRITISH COMMENT. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, August If). British comment on the Belgian debt American funding settlement is mainly congratulatory to Belgium. The Brussels correspondent of the ‘ Daily Telegraph ’ says that the terms evoke moderate approval. M. Jansen (Minister of Finance) considers that better terms might have been obtained but for the constitution of the American Government and the effect upon negotiations with other debtor countries. The ‘Morning Post’ says that if America’s financial assistance in wartime is to be treated by the Debt Commission as an investment, America’s part in the war necessarily assumes a very different complexion from the part taken by the Allies.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

BRITAIN SHOULD BE PAID. LONDON, August 20. The ‘ Financial Times ’ finds satisfaction in the fact that the United States, “which displayed such unconcealed eagerness to secure her pouud of flesh from other debtors,” recognised that Belgium was entitled to lenient treatment. The ‘ Daily Mail ’ says: “ Britain is paying everybody, anil none of her debtors are paying her, except Poland and Latvia. This must lead to intense suffering, perhaps even to the gradual destruction of British trade and industry. Britain has the right to expect that payments to America shall he accompanied by equal payments to Britain. We believe that the fairness of this claim will ho generally recognised in America, and also that, if more favorable terms are granted by America to other countries, the British agreement will he similarly modified.”—A. and N.Z. Cable.

THE FRENCH DEBT. LONDON, August 19. M. Caillnux (Minister of Finance) is going to London on Sunday, accompanied only by his secretary. Ho will privately confer with Mr Churchill on Monday regarding the French debt. Paris newspapers express the opinion that if the result is satisfactory experts will follow and take up the tions. At a luncheon tendered the AngloAmerican journalists yesterday AL Caillaux stressed the urgency of an agreement between the great civilised nations, for which reason they must first settle “ this miserable money business.”—A. and N.Z. Cable.