AN APPEAL TO REASON

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17953, 3 December 1932, Page 7

AN APPEAL TO REASON

U.S. PRESS SYMPATHETIC MR. ROOSEVELT’S DILEMMA NEW YORK, Dec. 1. American newspaper comment generally reflects the almost instant sympathy elicited in non-political quarters by the British note. Among tho statements and viewpoints in the note drawing most considerable comment here are the following: ’flic intimation that the United States will not be exempt from the disastrous consequences of a further fall in the prices of commodities; debts cannot bo separated from reparations; the Lausanne agreements were made with the cognizance and approval of the United States; the effect of the American tariff has been to restrict rather than facilitate the import of manufactured goods which Britain produces; further restrictions on British purchases of American goods would be necessary if debt payments wore resumed; and the ultimate settlement of the debt question would iu no way be affected by tho suspension of the payments of December Jo; Biitain’s association with the United States as both creditor nations who find it the greatest .wisdom to make remissions; and the burden of the American taxpayer would not be so greatly increased as would be his losses and tho losses of tho world consequent; upon a failure to revise the settlements. The New York Herald-Tribune’s Washington correspondent characterises the note as virtually an appeal to Ihe reason of the American people over the head of Congress. The New York American says that the warning that the remission of debts will make France, Germany, and other countries stronger commercial competitors of the United States reflects a change in Mr. Hearst’s viewpoint, by Intimating that Britain’s case deserves special consideration.

VIEW MAY BE MODIFIED The Now York Times’ Washington correspondent says: “Such observations as were made in Congressional circles to-day reflected an unfavorable response to the note, and a determination to insist upon no change in the debt status, but it is recognised that this attitude may be modified once the forceful arguments of Britain have luul time to make tkwselves felt,

How i'ar the President will go in bin communication to Congress on Decern her If) in transmitting the British note may be affected by the reaction in the next few days among Congressmen and throughout the country of the British appeal. ’ ’ '['lie New r York Herald's chief Washington correspondent telegraphs: “If Ihe Hoover administration had the constitutional power of political influence, the British case for the postponement of its own payment would be wain, but the President and bis advisers have no hope that Congress will agree cither on the British proposals or by any made by the President. Though men in office want to stay, and power is seldom surrendered willingly, it can be said that the sentiment of the Hoover administration today after reading the communications from Britain, is that Mr. .Roosevelt is welcome to run the world. He will find after Inaugural Day that ‘The only hope they see is in a steady campaign of the education of the masses on this abstruse subject, with the situation growing worse every hour.' While they do not at present despair that Mr. Roosevelt will lead, and not follow Congress, they believe that the. grim facts will force him to take that lead much sooner than even next March. The British Government stated its economic case fairly and prophetically to-day. ”