Even then, however, it was well to re
member that cancellation of debts
would have made war seem less un
desirable.” v
The Syracuse Herald (independent)
holds that "Mr. Baker's contribution
to this highly important controversy
is deserving of a cordial American
welcome if it does no more than direct
public attention to an aspect of the
problem w’hich has hitherto been
depreciated or absolutely ignored.
France must pay us in gold or its
equivalent, ami her only equivalent
is the products of French industry.
So far as France Is concerned, it
must be payment in goods or no pay
ment at all. But if we accept a
stimulated inflow of French products
on war-debt account, we shall pursue
a policy the very reverse of that em
bodied in our system of protective
tariffs. On the other hand, the crush
ing European taxes inseparable from
European liquidation of the Amer
ican debt will necessarily cripple the
European capacity to buy American
goods or diminish European willing
ness to do so.”
“Det the debts stand.” is the advice
of the Birmingham ‘News (independ
ent Democratic), which also believes
that “if the majority of Americans,
including 'Congress, really want to do
some big, fine thing to show Euro
peans that we are not really a gener
ation of Shylocks, let us all lower
the tariff bars.”
"Cancellation, Mr. Baker concludes."
says the Cleveland News (independ
ent), “ ‘ought’ to pacify Europe.
Facts urge the more obvious apd
logical assumption, however, that full
cancellation will remove the only ef
fective check upon European indul
gence in the old game of sscret
diplomacy, shady alliances and aggres
sive w’ars.”
Flyers.
