The Debts Argument
The debts situation is being • discussed between Sir Ronald Lindsay and the Cabinet Ministers primarily concerned in an atmosphere of profound secrecy. No objection can be taken to that. Two vital questions are involved—what Mr. Roosevelt would be ready to do if he could, and what, in fact, he can do. On both those subjects Sir Ronald has no doubt had information of importance to impart, but it would be completely dis- astrous if what he said were made matter for public discussion and controversy. Mr. Chamberlain may be right in saying that we are not going to Washington to bargain debt reduction on the American side against some concession in another .field on ours. At the same time, the President's singularly difficult position ought to be considered. His problem is not to get a settlement with us,.but to get a settlement through Congress ; and provided he is disposed to close with us on a figure we believe we can pay, it is our business to make his political path smooth for him in every way possible. How that can best be done will not be known till Mr. MacDonald or some other British Minister has talked personally with Mr. Roosevelt, and till then public argument will hinder
more than help. * * * *
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