EVENING REFLECTIONS
American collaboration

The Reparations Commission will therefore address this at the beginning of next week. the detailed study of the practical application of the experts' report.

This postponement of a few days, imposed moreover by the Easter holidays, in no way represents a delay because the chancelleries, during this time, have another task. They must achieve the agreement of the allied governments on the political conclusions of the report which fall within their competence.

The exchanges of views practically began by the barely indirect means of declarations made by the heads of the various governments.

Mr. Poincaré firstly, in a letter addressed to the president of the Reparations Commission, Mr. Barthou, clarified the French thesis and the scope of the complete acceptance of the experts' report. In the recent speech he delivered last week, Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald made known the tendencies of the government of which he is the head. Finally, yesterday, the President of the United States, Mr. Coolidge, speaking at a Press Association banquet to define his electoral program, publicly stated the American point of view both with regard to the experts' report and the subject of the participation of American capital in this formidable work of European reorganization.

“There are,” he said, “sound commercial reasons for us to contribute to financing the work of European peace, just as we have affirmed on numerous occasions that we will not favor advances of money for purposes military. Our industry and trade will benefit from our assistance to Europe, particularly with regard to agricultural products. But, apart from this point of view, there are such humanitarian requirements that it is our duty to grant our assistance where it is precisely requested for peaceful purposes. »

Now this is an essential point, because it was difficult to envisage the financial program necessarily at the basis of any economic resettlement if all hope of American support had to be ruled out.

It is regrettable that President Coolidge also took the opportunity to insist that the United States is irrevocably determined not to be part of the League of Nations because, on this point, Washington risks tomorrow find yourself in disagreement with London, but it is still the question of financial assistance which occupies the forefront in the order of immediate necessities.

Likewise, let us show neither regret nor concern that he once again confirmed American policy with regard to the debts contracted to the United States by European countries and affirmed that, in all future international, economic discussions, the States -United States will refuse to allow the question of these debts to be the subject of debate.
On this point again, France has no concerns since it is in no way asking for the forgiveness of its debts if no one tries to reduce the value of its debts.

American collaboration is officially promised to us, this is just what we need to remember to welcome it without reservation.

ANDRE PAYER.