BRITAIN’S REPLY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 51, 27 January 1933, Page 8

BRITAIN’S REPLY

DISCUSSION OF WAR DEBT. RESERVATION MADE. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 25. Great Britain to-day accepted the 1 terms laid down by the Presidentelect, Mr F. D. Roosevelt, for a discussion of her war debt, but made a reservation against deciding what questions should be considered by the W'orld Economic Conference until the general meeting of all the nations to be represented there. The British reply was delivered at the State Department while a furious debate was in progress in the Senate which indicated that if there has been any yielding in Congressional opposition to cancellation or revision of the debt it is still of small proportions. The feature of the British Note accepting the invitation to send a representative or representatives to Washington 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 vague concerning this important feature the Hoover-Roosevelt communique is equally vague upon it. The Note dispatched from London tended to substantiate the opinion held by many that Britain wishes to divorce the debt conversations from such problems as gold, trade, etc. Late to-day it was revealed that Mr Roosevelt is attempting to form a Congressional committee to keep touch between himself and Congress regarding opinions on debts and other matters. It 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 Hoover favoured and Mr Roosevelt rejected. Mr Stimson telephoned the text of the acceptance note to Mr Roosevelt at Warm 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. DEBATE 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. Senator 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.” COMMENT ON MR CHAMBERLAIN’S SPEECH. Press opinion is *,enera.lly 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 thoughttul 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 has gone beyond the point where statesmen could hope to influence the public opinion of other coiintries and that opinions could better be converted through ordinary diplomatic negotiations.

NEED FOR REALISATION. (Times Cable.) Received January 27, 8.50 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 26. The Times says: “It will not be easy between now and March to brinu the American public to realise tliat°all trade is only barter of goods and services, and that money, even in the form of gold, is merely the counter to facilitate their exchange. Until this is realised, there is little hope of a settlement. If it is realised in time, the discussions at Washington may be a useful prelude to the World Conference.”