AMERICA'S TERMS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 96, 14 December 1931, Page 5

AMERICA'S TERMS

(Press. Assn.-

europe must reduce expenditure on armaments STATEMENT- IN SENATE

— By Telegraph— Copyright).

WASHINGTON, Sat. A reduction in European armaments was demanded on Friday by Senator Watson (Indiana), the Republican leader, in return for the revision of way debts as suggested by President Hoover. "Our people,'' he said, "will neyer be satisfied to scale down war debts, much less to "forgive them, unless Europe shows some disposition to reduce her armaments." Senator Watson added that his stand was coupled with that of the Opposition. i Senator Borah, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, is expected to check early action on the Bresident's proposals for the revival of the War Debts Commission. It is the obvious intention of the Congress leaders to hold up this moye pending action in Europe at the February Disarmament Conference. * Meanwhile, it has become clear that the Administration is not disturbed by the fact that Congress will not have ratified the Hoover moratorium by December 15, when the payments fall due. The Under-Secretary of the TreaI sury, Mr. Mills, said on Friday that the Jack of immediate ratification could' be regarded merely as a technicality and that foreign governments would take no steps toward making payments because of it. Alarmed at the uprising against President Hoover's suggestion for reconsideration of war debts", Mr. Mills arranged for a conference with the leaders of both parties in the Congress on Saturday to go over the situation.