WAR DEBTS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 6 October 1921, Page 5

WAR DEBTS

SPEECH BT MR CHURCHILE,

SUGGESTED CANCELLATION

BY CABLE—FRESS ASSOTTATIOH—COPYRIGHT LONDON, Oct. 4. The Daily Express states that a speech by Mr Winston Churchill, in which he suggested that Britain should be forgiven her debts if she forgave her debtors, has precipitated a demand by the United States for fhe repayment of the £972,000,000 war debt, on which three years' interest is due, and the whole of the principal- is due on demand. The Datty Express states that Mr Churchill's remark produced a considerable storm in American newspapers, which, asserted that it was the beginning of a movement whereby Britain may avoid payment altogether. The City of London regards with dismay any suggestion that the country should shirk its financial liabilities. We have , £128,000,000 in gold which could be shipped to the United States; it is of no value here, and it would be "better, therefore, if t&e gold was shipped.