News Review of Current
Events the World Over
France anil Belgium Default on War Debts ? Great Britain
and Four Other Nations Pay ? Drys Argue
Against Legalizing Beer.
By EDWARD W. PICKARD
FRA SCE. reputedly one of the rich
est nations In the world, has tie
faulted. For the first time in history
it has brouen its pledget) word, refus
iny to pay the Decem
ber war debt Interest
installment of $ll>.
261.432 due the Unit
ed. States. This ac
tion was taken by the
chamber of deputies
by a vote of 402 to
1S7. while the gal
leries roared the Na
tionalist and Royalist
song "Not a sou to
America.** The power*
M. Herriot fu! Socialist party de
serted the government.
Premier Herriot had oiade a tre
mendous light, the most brilliant in his
career, and when his defeat was an
nounced he and nls ministers Stalked
out of the chamber. The deputies
then took another vote on a motion
to defer payment until such a time as
an international debt conference can
he held, and this was carried. 381) to
ft". The Radical Socialists who had
supported tbe premier's terms for pay
ment had left the chamber before this
vote was taken.
Herriot nnd his cabinet Immediately
submitted their resignation* to Presi
dent l.ohrun and as is cusiomary.
were asked to carry on until >i now
government could be formed. ? 'onse
quently It was necessary for Herriot
to transmit to Washington the de
cision of the chamber.
FOLLOWING a rapid exchange be
tween London and Washington.
Great Britain fulfilled expectations by
paying the &I5.550.W10 in principal and
Interest due the
United States on
Thursday. MncD o n
ald's government had
proposed that the
payment should not
be regarded as the
regular semi-annual
Installment provided
for in the debt agree
ment. but as a pay
ment on capital to he
taken Into account in
any future under- Sec'y Stimson
standing. Secretary of
State Stimson promptly replied declln
Ing to accept the payment if accompa
nied by conditions that would amount
to repudiation of the debt funding
poet. The British explained that they
were merely setting forth their own
position and reserving the right to re
cur to their arguments in the future
examination ot the whole question "to
which the United States government
has agreed. '
The officials in Washington Inter
preted t lie last British note as one of
"mental reservations'* and decided
they could accept the payment with
out committing the United States to
any deviation from the terms of the
debt settlement. So the incident was
considered closed so far as Great Brit
ain was concerned.
Belgium followed the example of
France and defaulted.. The cabinet
council decided not to pay America
the *2.12ri.<HNl that was due Thurday.
explaining that the Hoover mora
torium and the Lausanne reparations
agreement had deprived Belgium of
substantial sums and that the debt
funding agreement of 1025 was based
on Belgium's capacity to pay. Then
the cabinet resigned.
Italy. Lithuania. Czechoslovakia and
l*atvia paid up on the debt. Hungary,
Poland and Esthonia did not pay. Po
land has asked the United States to
review the debt agreement on the
ground that her Interest on the debt
is unfairly high when compared to
that which Italy pays.
PRESIDENT-ELECT ROOSEVELT
was aroused lo wrath when the cor
respondent of the London Express
sent a cablegram to his paper mis
representing Mr. Roosevelt's views on
the debt question. The dispatch said
in part:
"Let me at once clear up any mis
understanding there is at home con
cerning whnt the new President is
going to do ahout war debts. I gather
from our conversation that on March
ft he Is going to make a statement
which I believe will bring some meas
ure of relief to a doubting world.
-But although I have the best rea
sons for believing that the interest on
the war debts may be waived, and
per ha i *s some pretty hard conditions
will be attached to cutting off <he In
terest. there Is no possible shadow of
doubt that the capital, representing at
I loose ve It's own figure Si 1.000.000.000.
will have to be paid ? every red cent
of It"
Governor Itnosevelt declared the
story was made of whole cloth, that
he had refused to give I he correspond
ent a "Christmas message for the
world** and had declined to discuss
with him the debts or anything else.
Lieut. Gov. H. II. Lehman, who was
S present when the Englishman saw the
governor, asserted that nothing In any
way justifying the cabled story had
I been said.
The I'resi dent-Elect took occasion
also to deny a report printed In a
! Sacramento newspaper that he would
offer the portfolio of the Interior to
i Senator Uiram \V. Johnson.
El'RESENTATIVE LOUIS T. Mc
Fadden of Pennsylvania, who
seems to dislike Mr. Hoover more than
anyone else does, introduced a resolu
tion seekinu to impeach the President
on the ground that he has failed to
obey the mandate of congress against
the cancellation of the war debts and
has "endeavored to nullify the con
tracts existing between the United
States and Its debtors." in his talk
the Pennsylvanian even hinted at pos
sible bribery. A motion to lay the im
peachment resolution on the table was
opposed by only eight members, all
democrats except McFadden.
f) It KM IKK HKUItlOT of France
' having accepted the agreement
ret-oiiciliug the equality demands of
Germany mid the security require
ments of France, the German govern
ment consented to return to the dis
armament conference and hopes for
the success of that conference were
revived. France, Great Britain and
Italy declared that one or the aims of
the conference is to give equality of
rights to Germany and her allied
powers within a framework of secur
ity for all nations. Britain. France,
Italy and Germany allirmed they
would not resort to arms to settle
disputes, and the same powers prom
ised to co operate in a sincere effort
to bring about disarmament.
In Berlin this accord was consid
ered a distinct victory for Chancellor
Kurt von Schleicher and Foreign Min
ister Von Neurath.
REPRESENTATIVE DANIEL E.
Garrett of Houston, Texas, died
In his Washington apartment after an
illness or several months, lie was a
t'einocrat of great inlluence in the
party and in t lie house, had served
sixteen years in congress and was re
elected in November.
EXCEPT for the war debts beer
was the chief topic of interest In
Washington. The house ways ami means
committee was conducting hearings on
the legalizing mens
ures. and it heard
plenty in opposition
from both men ami
women. The gentler
sex came tirst and the
things It said about
beer were far from
gentle The women
were led by Mrs.
Henry W. Peahody of
New York, general
chairman of the worn
en's national commit- Or. A. J. Barton
tee for law enforce
ment. They told the committee that
beer was responsible for 110 per cent
of preprohihition drunkenness, and
asserted that modification of the Vol
stead act was the entering wedge for
the return of the open saloon.
Then they warned that if Ited revo
lution and riots followed the passage
of beer legislation the responsibility
would be laid at the committee's
door.
Next day the dry men. marshaled by
Dr. A. J. Part on, executive secretary
of the Anti Saloon league, took the
floor. They included Canon W. S.
chase. Deets Picket. Bishop James
Cannon, Jr.. and others, and another
woman. Mrs. Ella Boole, president of
the National Women's Christian Tem
perance union, was with them to add
her argument!*. One of the witnesses
produced by the drys wns Dr. Walter
R. Miles of Yale, who told of experi
ments he made with students tending
to show that a 2.7J4 per cent alcoholic
drink was Intoxicating. He adm!tted
jhe stuff he gave the boys was not
real beer but a concoction of grape
Juice, sugar and alcohol.
Secretary of the Treasury Mills was
summoned by the committee to give
estimates of the amount of revenue
which would be derived from a fa- !
of $5 on ench barrel of legalized beer.
Little affected by all the dry argu
ments It had heard, the committee
went to work drafting the legalizing
bill. The wets were confident the>
could put It through the house, but
were not so sure tliey cm Id muster a
two-thirds vote to overcome a veto
by President Hoover ? and there were
reports that the Chief Executive would
disapprove the measure on the ground
that It would nullify the Eighteenth
amendment.
Thu senators v,-ere discussing the j
relative merits of repeal and modifi
cation. Senator Borah. a tx?ne dry.
said- he liked the re|?eal plan offered
by Senator Blaine of Wisconsin, who
is very wet. Mr. Blaine's resolution
would amend the Constitution, first, by
forbidding transportation o' intoxi
cants Into any state or territory in vio
, latiou of Its laws; second, by author
izing congress to enact laws to aid
enforcement in dry states. Tills he
j would substitute for the Eighteenth
[ amendment.
\ 17ETS In the house were defeated
| VV in two attempts to cut oil funds
for prohibition enforcement. Amend
ments tc\ the treasury supply bill de
signed to slash from the
UKM appropriation for the coast guard
were ofTered by Schafer of Wisconsin
| and Boylan of New York, but both
| were voted down.
JAPAN was becoming more and more
isolated by developments in Geneva.
The League of Nations conciliation
committee of nineteen which Is now
to handle the Sino
Japanese trouble over
Manchuria, intended
to ask the United
States and Itussia to
have representatives !
on the committee, but
Tokyo Instructed Its
delegation at Geneva
to reject any such
proposal. Indeed. Ja
pan declines to let the
committee settle the
controversy, thus dis
regarding the friendly
advice of Great Britain.
Then Maxim Litvinov. Soviet foreign
affairs commissar, issued a statement
that itussia and China are resuming
diplomatic negotiations, that were rup
tured in 1027. He gave out the news
after a parley with D. W. W. Yen.
Chinese delegate at Geneva. This was
looked on as a direct hid for recogni
tion of Russia by the United States.
A spokesman for the government In
Tokyo said this action by what he !
described as the nations "most dis- .
turhlng to the peare of the world" was
"Indirectly threatening" Japan.
M. Litvinov
CHAIRMAN MARVIN JONES of the j
house agricultural committee In- |
troduced the Democratic farm relief j
measure In the house, the same being
the allotment plan which Is favored !
hy President- Elect Roosevelt With
this as a basis the Democrats hope to j
work out a bill that can be passed at
this session.
The Jones bill which applies only
to wheat, cotton, tobacco, and hogs,
provides virtually two plans in one.
For 10.13 the secretary of agriculture
would fix the percentage of these com
modities required for domestic con
sumption.
No means of curtailing production
is provided. Thirty days after pas
sage of the act producers of the four
commodities would be entitled to re
ceive adjustment certificates on that
portion of their sales falling within
the domestic consumption percentage.
The certificates would be issued at
the rate of 42 cents a bushel for
wheat. 5 cents a pound for cotton. 4
cents for tobacco, and 2 cents for
hogs, less a small administrative 1
charge.
With passage of the act adjustment !
charges at these same rates "would be j
levied on the processing of the four
commodities. Tariffs at these rates
would be levied on imports and an
extra tariff of f? cents a pound on
short staple cotton and cotton goods
would be imposed.
PRESIDENT HOOVER. In the pres
ence of a group of distinguished
persons, accepted on behalf of the na
tion the deed to the wooded island of
Anolostan in the I'otomac river which
is now a natural shrine to the memory !
of Theodore Roosevelt. The President !
directed that it "shall hereafter be ;
known as Theodore Roosevelt island
and dedicated to the nation." Among
those present at the ceremony were
Mrs. Hoover. Mrs. Alice Roosevelt
l-ongworth. Secretary of State Stim
son and General Pershing.
BLOODY fighting in the Charo con
tinues between Bolivia and Para
guay. and it is estimated that the
casualties already have reached 30.
000. The Paraguayan forces claim to
fcave captured several forts recently
and have seemed to be having the best
of the conflict. Rut the Bolivians are
greatly strengthened by the presence
of Gen. Hans Kundt, the German offi
cer who is commanding them in the
field.
? 1IU W?at?rs N?w?p*p?i UaSoa.
SECRETARY MILLS
Ogden Mills, secretary ol the treas
ury, urged the house ways and tneans
committee to help balance the bud::et
by Introducing in congress a bill for a
manufacturers* excise sides tnx. He
estimated that a tax on legalized beer
would bring in between $1125,000.000
and SI 50.000.000 the first year.
ROBINS' STATEMENT
ON HIS QUEER CASE
Says "Darkness" Averted More
Serious Collapse.
New York. ? Raymond Robins, pro
hibitionist, social reformer and friend
of President Hoover, made his first
public statement concerning his dis
appearance en route from New York
to Washington to keep an appoint
ment with the President. He denied
that he was a "quitter." That was
taken as a reply to hints that his dis
appearance ami reappearance as
"Reynolds Rogers," prospector in
North Carolina mountains, had been
a sham in order to hide from some
thing.
The statement was brought here
from Brooksville, Flu. There Colonel
Robins is recuperating at his winter
home.
"1 have come through a terrible ex
perience," says Robins' statement.
"Here in my home, surrounded by my
family and the friends and associa
tions I have loved since I was a boy,
I am being fully restored. Those who
are wise in matters of this sort as
sure me that the darkness that over
took me in the midst of my day's work
was a provision of nature to save me
from a serious collapse. Those who
meet me in the future will be able to
judge of my mental clarity. Those
who have known my life in the past
will not believe I have heen a quitter.
"For the generous and tender help
fulness of many dear friends in these
hours of suffering for my wife and
family I am grateful beyond words.
For the competent and kindly co-op
eration of the oilicers of government
und the immense aid ? and in the
main, truthful and fair treatment ? ac
corded me by the public press, 1 cher
ish abiding gratitude.
"In so far as there has been untrue
and unfair comment, 1 forgive its au
thors and accept it as the cost of a
life spent in battle for causes 1 hold
dear. All that I ask for the future Is
judgment upon the facts of my work
from dpy to day."
Doctor Smith, who went to Florida
at Uohins* Invitation, asserted that
the Robins case was one of overwork
causing physical and intellectual fa
tigue," and that any hint of there be
ing subterfuge or deception concern- i
Ing his disappearance is entirely un- !
worthy and unwarranted."
Cuban House Sets 8 Hours
as Maximum Working Day
Havana, Oiba ? The house of rep
resentatives? by a vote of 121 to 4,
sanctioned a labor hill which estab
lishes eight hours as a maximum work
I ing day in all industries and busi
j nesses. The measure will affect 3o0,- j
I 000 men and women.
Madrid Girl Flyer
Marries in Plane
Madrid. ? Madrid's popular avintrix,
Glsisa I'rieto, was married in the air
to Emilio Copano, a Madrid merchant.
She had to be content with a civil
marriage for the priest refused to
make the night when the three motors
of the plane began to roar. A judge
I>erformed the ceremony.
Allan Hoover Is Elected
to the Bachelors' Club
I?a Angeles. ? The Bachelors' club
a group of socially prominent younp 1
men mho still cling to "single blessed
ness," has a new member. He la A)
Ian Hoover, son of President Hoover
ALLOTMENT PLAN
FOR FARM RELIEF
Democratic Bill Introduced
in the House.
Washington. ? Chairman Marvin
Jones of the house agricultural com
inii tee Introduced as (he Democratic
' farm relief bill a measure calling for
| the senilis up of the allotment plan,
more far-reaching than heretofore pro^
posed.
The hill carries with it the blessing
of President-Elect Roosevelt and em
bodies the work of his advisers. Using
It as a basis the Democrats In con
j press hope to work cut a farm relief
program which may be passed at this
I session.
The Jones bill, watch applies only
I to wheat, cotton, tobacco, ami hops,
provides virtually two plans in one.
For 11133 the secretary of agriculture
would tlx the percentage of these com
modities required for domestic con
sumption.
No means of curtailing production
Is provided. Thirty days after pas
sage of the act producers of the four
commodities would ne entitled to re
cede adjustment certificates on that
portion of their sales falling within
the domestic consumption percentage.
The certificates would be issued at
the rate of 42 cents a bushel for
wheat, live cents a bushel for cotton.
I four cents for tobacco, and two cents
j for hogs, less a small administrative
I charge.
With passage of the act adjustment
| charges at these same rates would he
| levied on the processing of the four
commodities. Tariffs at these rates
would be levied on imports and an
extra tariff of live cents a pound on
short staple cotton and cotton goods
would he Imposed.
Prior to the planting of 1JI34 crops
of wheat, cotton, and tobacco, and the
breeding of hogs for I lie 15134 pig crop,
die secretary of agriculture might rec
ommend and the President proclaim a
second year in which the adjustment
charges and tariffs would be in effect.
But in the second year only those
producers who entered into voluntary
contracts not to increase production
or at the order of tiie secretary to de
crease production would receive a
splltup at the end of the crop year
of *he money In the fund raised by
the charges on their particular com
modity.
Dish of Snake Fatal
to Chinese Official
Canton, China. ? Chu Cliaohsin in
spector general of foreign affairs in
the Canton government and formerly
charge d'affaires in the Chinese lega
tion in London, died after a dinner
at naval headquarters. Physicians
said snake poisoning caused death.
The dinner was in honor of Admiral
Sir Howard Kelly, commander in chief
of the British naval forces in the Far
Kast.
Snake was on the menu at the din
ner given by the Naval club. Chu
was believed to have swallowed venom
that had not been removed. Prior to
the dinner, the Chinese diplomat was
well.
Russia Won't Surrcncl-r
Insurgents to Japan
Moscow. ? The foreign othce pul?
lished ti sharp exchunge ot notes be
tween the Soviet and .Iniutnese gov
ernments in which .Moscow categor
ically refused to surrender the Man
churinn msurpent general. Su I*in?
Wen. and his urmy or to prevent Jheir
departure from the Soviet union.
General Su recently tied before Jap
anese forces in the Main hull region
in northwest Manchuria and crossed
the Russian border.
House Beats Move
to Impeach Hoover
Washington. ? Party affiliations were
ignored in the house of representa
tives before the unprecedented spec
tacle of presentation by Representa
tive Louis T. McFadden. Republican,
of Pennsylvania, of a resolution to
Impeach President Hoover for "high
crimes and misdemeanors" in connec
tion with the war debts, democrats
and Republicans alike rushed with a
vote of 301 to 8 to overwhelm and
table the Pennsylvanian's proi>osal.
Marilyn Miller and
Alvarado to Wed
London ? Marilyn Miller and Don
Alvarado of the American stage and
screen announced their engagement
here.
Miss Miller and Alvarado were mem
bers of a "stowaway party" carried
to sea by the liner Bremen when the
ship sailed from New York.
Trick Cyclist Is Dead
Raleigh. N. G. ? R. B. <MRed") Par
rlsh, once famed as a trick motor
cycle rider, died here In comparative
obscurity.