WAR DEBTS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1930, Page 2

WAR DEBTS

HOPES OF FIVE-YEAR MOR ATOR lUM. Telegraph.—Copyright.] LONDON, October 22. Any talk of the war debt invariably leads to a crop of denials. Yet this subject is so vital to the overbui deped peoples of Europe, and especially to over-taxed Britain, that a mere whisper is sufficient to evoke columns of speculation, A lengthy message is published from the “Daily Express” special correspondent at Paris, Mr H. J> Greenwall, who says he understands that Mr Walter F. Edge, the United States Ambassador to France, has gone to Washington spedially to report to President Hoover concerning the reception of a tentative proposal to grant the European debtors of America a five years’ moratorium • Mr Greenwall also records the fact that the whole of the Conservative press of France is in a state of commotion because it is understood that the United States wants an assurance before granting a moratorium, that France will not spend an,v money l otherwise due to America on armaments. The Government at Rome is also being sounded regarding Italy's shipbuilding programme. Mr Greenwali adds: —Tt is not a question of sentiment. It is purely a business matter with the United States. A moratorium would benefit her as much as Europe. Germany will certainly claim a moratorium from ihe Reparations payments, and France fears that if once Germany is permitted to withhold her payments, she may never start them again.”