Roosevelt Turns Hoover Down

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 December 1932, Page 2

Roosevelt Turns Hoover Down

must Ag£m responsibility HIMSELF. A BROAD-yiSIONED MESSAGE Received Tuesday, 10.30 p.m. WASHINGTON, Dec. 19. In the opinion of competent political observers here President Hoover has made his, last war debts revision gesture. The matter is now squarely before Mr. Roosevelt either to accept the President's offer of co-operation in the formation of a bi-partisan semiCongressional diplomatic . commission, cr if he refuses he must accept the full responsibility himself after March 4. In his Note to Congress to-day, which even the Democrats admitted is abroad-visioned and sound paper, Mr. 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 requiring immediate attention. The general tenor of statements by Democratic leaders indicates that Mr. Roosevelt will decline to co-operate. Reports from Albany indicate that he still favours negotiation through existing diplomatic agencies and will take no responsibility before bis inauguration. Thus Mr. Hoover must eitber on Ms, personal initiative appoint a commission' or withdraw from the matter. Whicb course be will take is problematical, but it is recognised that it is very doubtful if Britain for example would wish to eirter into negotiations with, a Commission whose authority automatically terminates scarcely more • than two* months hence. President Hoover's method of linking debts to other phases of the world economic situation is generally approved in Congressional circles, where it is felt the nation should receive some concessions in disarmament and trade in return for revision, but the Democrats felt 'that Mf. Roosevelt should assume no responsibility which might commit the party to a programme which later events might eause to be disapproved. They seemed •willing though to let Mr Hoover form a commission to "e'xplore" the situation, reserving the right to act on the,suggestions as they saw fit. Mr. Hoover's mention of the examination of the debt obligations of those .nations which "sought to pay," is interpreted ad meaning such smaller nations as Greece and Hungary, also France if she soon makes good her default. It is generally agreed that Britairi would be the first to benefit from any re-examination. The Press generally approved of 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-opera-tion between Congress, Hoover and Roosevelt, but "view the Note as a step in the right direction. Hoover Completely Cured of , One Delusion BRITISH PRESS COMMENT Received Tuesday, 11.30 p.m. . LONDON, Dec. 20. President Hoover's message to Congress is featured by all the papers. The Daily Telegraph describes it as remarkably bold, showing how the better mind of America has been working. Mr. Hoover in this message as in the previous one is sho?/n as being completely cured of the delusion that his country is able to stand on its own feet in happy detachment from the troubles of the rest of the world. •* Cancellation Inevitable MR HUGHES IS POSITIVE , , SYDNEY, Dec. 20. Mr. W. M. Hughes, upon his return from England, said: '[ No matter what shape the immediate result of the default.'by France, Belgium ..and -other nations may assume, the cancellation of the war debts is inevitable.., I ( consider in the face of the British Notes and the attitude of the nations the United States will be compelled to review its position." Better Balance of Trade f . ■ , . . ■ | LQNDQN, Dec 12. I In the House of Commons, Mr. J. S. Crooke (C.) inquirod whether in orde/ to facilitate the payment of war debts America arid Britain would invite France, Italy, Belgium and Germany to confer with a view to common action to. render the balance ■ of. trade between Europe/and. the United States morer' f avourable ■to Eur ope'/ " Mr.* Baldwin" - 'said that the. 'United' States. '.Mad agreed' ~to„ <v, joint examinaii,on;lof *'>jhe. whole*, question.- witb Brit-..= '> a-rft,;kid tbkresf/JSfe 'h^'f-tlibugnt'^^e'sug^' l ' 1 gested action was at present. inappropriate.