THE NEXT MOVE.

Wairarapa Age, 17 December 1932, Page 5

THE NEXT MOVE.

AMERICA AND WAR DEBT REVISION. STEPS EXPECTED TO SET UP COMMISSION. REPRESENTATION OF CONGRESS LIKELY. (Received Friday, 7 p.m.) NEW YORK, December 15. The “New York Times” Washington correspondent says there axe indications to-day that President Hoover will soon consult the President-elect, Mr. Roosevelt, regarding ‘‘ an appropriate agency ’ ’ for the review of war debts, in anticipation of such a request from Britain in response to a suggestion in Mr. Hoover’s last Note. It is believed that Mr. Hoover favours a bi-partisan commission, consisting of Congressmen and. diplomats. Although it would be primarily formed to consider Britain’s case, it is assumed that it would be extended to cover other nations in connection with which difficulty has arisen. Leading Democrats who would be sure to figure in any such commission indicated that they believed Mr. Roosevelt would not consent to such dealings with France and other defaulters. They w-ould not serve in such a capacity even if he requested them to. On the other hand, they declined comment definitely in tho case of Britain and other payers, but indicated considerable sympathy in her favour. It is noted that historical cases where foreign affairs were' negotiated with Congressional representation were usually successful, 'while failures occurred without this representation, notably President Wilson’s negotiation of the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations Covenant, which the Senate, without representation on the negotiating body, rejected. The “Times” correspondent outlines the steps expected to develop as follows :—Firstly, receipt of a Note from Britain offering the idea of a commission which will be acceptable to Congress, Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Hoover, it being noted that the first two have already registered opposition to the recreation of the Debt Funding Commission; secondly, Mr. Hoover will communicate with Mr. Roosevelt, outlining a diplomatic and Congressional commission authorised to hear separately in Washington the case for revision of those debtors who paid to-day; thirdly if Mr Roosevelt approves of the idea’ Mr. Hoover will despatch a message to Congress outlining the facts and giv“S names of the commissioners, who will then proceed to have as early a meeting with Britain as that country desires; fourthly, should Mr. Roosevelt decline co-operation, Mr. Hoover’s message will merely outline the facts and leave the entire matter to Mr Roosevelt s forthcoming administraPAYMENTS MADE. FIVE NATIONS DEFAULT. Th A .® HINGT ON, December 15. . Vn,t ?l Btates 0,1 Thursday ejected war debt payments from Britain via^nV Z T C -^ Sl °- Vakia ’ Finland, Latvia and Lithuania, while France Belfailed ta pay.’ EBlhOn!a and W