EUROPEAN WAR DEBTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18157, 23 October 1930, Page 7

EUROPEAN WAR DEBTS.

PROPOSED MORATORIUM. WIDESPREAD SPECULATION. FEARS IN FRANCE. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, Oct. 22. Talk of war debt invariably leads to a crop, of denials, yet the subject is so vital to the overburdened peoples of Europe, especially the overtaxed people of Britain, that a mere whisper is sufficient to evoke columns of speculation. A lengthy message is published from the special correspondent at Paris of the Daily Express, Mr H. J. Greenwell, who says he understands that Mr Walter F. Edge, United States Ambassador to France has gone to Washington specially to report to the President, Mr Hoover, concerning the reception of the tentative proposal to grant the European debtors of the United Slates a five years’ moratorium. Mr Greenwell records the fact that the whole of the Conservative press of France is in a state of commotion because it is understood (hat the United States wants an assurance before gi'cfnling a moratorium that France will not spend money otherwise due to America on armaments. Tlie Italian Government also is being sounded about its shipbuilding programme. The correspondent says it is not a question of sentiment, but purely a business matter with the United Stales. A moratorium would benefit her as much as Europe. Germany will certainly claim a moratorium' from her reparation payments and France fears that if once she is permitted to withhold payments she may never start them again.