25 NOVEMBER 1932, Page 34

ALTERNATIVE COURSES.

Now, so far as can be judged at present, there are several courses which the United States may adopt at the present time. The Hoover administration, as the mouthpiece of America, may decide to respond to the suggestions of the Note presented by Britain and the other Allies both as regards the suspension of payment on December 15th next and as regards opening up the whole question of a reconsideration of the debts, or the United States executive may reply that, while prepared to consider later on the whole problem of War Debts to the United States, they insist upon the payments on the next instahnent on December 15. Or the question may be left in the air at the moment by Washington affirming that the matter is

• (Continued on page 774.)

Finance—Public and Private

(Continued from page 772.) one for Congress to determine when it meets a few days before the Debt payment is due. Or, though it seems scarcely likely, the. British and the .other Notes may be met with a definite refusal on the part of America to reopen the Debt question at all.