WAR DEBT PAYMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18850, 21 January 1933, Page 5

WAR DEBT PAYMENT.

WASHINGTON DISCUSSIONS PRESIDENT & PRESIDENT-ELECT" FEELING OF OPTIMISM, United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. WASHINGTON, Jan. 19. There are strong Indications that Britain’s request for an immediate disousslon of the war debts question and the matter of the proposed World Economic Conference will be dealt with at the conference to be held in Washington to-morrow between the President, Mr. Hoover, and the Presi-dent-elect, Mr. Roosevelt. Mr. Roosevelt arrived In the capital this afternoon and was immediately received by the Secretary’ of State, Mr, H. L. Stimson. They remained in private discussion for more than an hour. Subsequently both declined 'to say more than that they had dlsoussed foreign affairs. However, In usually well-informed circles it Is believed that tentative plans for the co-operative reopening of debt negotiations were consummated. It is understood that these plans provide that within a month a delegation of British envoys will be received Arst by the State Department and then by Mr. Roosevelt. Thus the interim between the change in the Administration on March 4 would be bridged. Considerable optimism is felt now that Mr. Roosevelt has Initiated this move for negotiations and that Mr. Stimson is acting in accord with Mr. Hoover, that tangible results will follow the White House conference. It is said, however, that there is still a difference of opinion between them as to when the Economic Conference should be held and other details regarding it. There has been a fairly distinct intimation .from those In close touch with Mr. Roosevelt that he will not look favourably upon any linking of war debts and the Economic Conference.

LATER.

DISCUSSION AGREED TO. BY AMERICAN LEADERS. OTHER ITEMS INCLUDED. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received Jan. 21, 9.45 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 20. The President (Mr H. C. Hoover) and the President-elect (Mr F. D. Roosevelt) have agreed to discuss the war debts question with Britain. The discussions are to take place early in March after the change in the Administration. In a statement issued from White House following a meeting extending over an hour and a-half, It was said that official talks with Britain would include also the economic problems of the world, and “ ways and means for improving the world situation." A’he Secretary of State, Mr H. L. Stimson, was instructed to initiate negotiations with Britain immediately and arrange for the conference. Friday’s conference was attended by the Secretary of State (Mr H. L. Stimson); the Secretary to the Treasury (Mr O. L. Mills); Messrs Norman Davis, and Moley were associated with Mr Roosevelt.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT.

ISSUED FROM WHITE HOUSE. REVIEW OF MUTUAL PROBLEMS. (Official Wireless.) (Received Jan. 2t, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Jan. 20. A communique Issued at White House, Washington, this afternoon, states: “A conference between Mr Hoover (the President) and Mr Roosevelt (President-elect) was devoted to a canvass of the foreign situation, and the following stater ment was agreed upon: “ The British Government has asked for a discussion on her debt. The incoming administration will be glad to receive their representative early in March for this purpose. “ It will be necessary to discuss at the same time 'those world economic problems in which the United States and Britain are mutually interested. Therefore representatives should also he sent to discuss ways and means of Improving the world situation. “ It was settled that these arrangements be taken up by the Secretary of Slate with the British Government.”

FOR BRITAIN ALONE,

HOOVER-ROOSEVELT STATEMENT. FAR EASTERN SITUATION. United Press Assn.—Eloc. Tel. Copyright (Received Jan. 21, 12.45 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 20. In diplomatic quarters the American Note is taken as a statement to Britain alone. Britain meeting the Instalment due on December 15 caused a favourable reaction. Messrs Hoover and Roosevelt did not skip entirely over the Sino-Japa-nese situation. Mr Roosevelt's statement indicating accord between the outgoing and incoming administrations on sustaining of American treaties has produced a healthy effect in that part of the world theatre where the SinoJapanese situation Is paramount. I! was disclosed that the discussion of world economic problems individually with Britain was designed not to cui under, but rather to strengthen, Ihe plans for the world Economic Gonferen re.

Though both Mr Hoover and Mr Roosevelt are represented as feding that the problem of debts could not be divorced entirely from the world Economic Conference, it was said that, an agreement was recahed that no direct discussions take place at the projected world carley.