ANGLO-U.S.A. DEBTS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 March 1930, Page 6

ANGLO-U.S.A. DEBTS

COUNTER CLAIM URGED

AGAINST SOUTHERN STATES

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

LONDON, March .12

Tile question of the Repudiated Civil War debts of certain States of America was again given attention in the House of -Lords by "Lord Redosdale, who asked whether the Government would consider the advisability of representing this matter to the United States with a view to an early adjustment. He said: The total sum owing by eight defaulting States is seventy-eight millions sterling; This is about one-twelfth of the British war debt to America. Ther6 i s a considerable -feeling in America about the defaulting States, and the Washington Government might welcome an invitation from Britain to re-open the subject. Such an action would raise America from level Russia in the matter of repudiation of debts and in words of her own President Rooseveldt, erase from their history, a painful, shameful page. Lordj;PoqSoiiby, in replying, said that the successive Governments since 1841 had always refused to make any representation to the American Govern men t on this subject, realising that the U.S.A. Federal Government is in no wise concerned with the individual States’ obligations and has no power to compel defaulting States to pay debts. There was no- likelihood of the Federal Government making a liability of the matter, particularly as it .was impossible to supply definite -reliable information on the subject, Lord Ponsonby added: “1 think the present is a most unfortunate time to make, such speeches as Lord Redesdales.” There was no connection whatever, between these States’ repudiation' and Britain’s war de’bt to America-.

Lord Redesdalc said he objected to the using of the’ Naval Conference as a “smoke screen” to prevent fre.e speech in the House of Lords. The debate then ended.