THE DEBTS OF THE AMERICAN SOUTHERN STATES [To the Editor
of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—As one of your American readers, may I take the liberty of replying through you to one of your correspondents whose varying viewpoints add to the interest of your paper ?
In your issue of April 27th Mr. Frederick E. Coe mentions that the United States owes Great Britain the sum of £62,000,000, principal and interest on debts incurred by our Southern States during the Civil War or War of the Secession, and goes on to say that " the validity of the claim is admitted by every decent American."
How extensive is Mr. Coe's acquaintance with Americans, decent or otherwise, it is, of course, impossible to say. His assertion, however, that Americans recognize the debts against the revolting States as debits against the Government from which they were attempting to secede is one that may not go unchallenged. It suggests an ignorance of facts.
Suppose that Scotland, for reasons entirely satisfactory to herself, decided to sever her connexion with the British Government, and proceeded to support her convictions by force of arms. Suppose that immediately following her action, the United States Government, fearful of a break in very fruitful trade relations, proclaimed her neutrality, thus giving Scotland the international standing of a belligerent. Suppose, also, that the United States gave Scotland wide- spread sympathy and moral support, permitting her un- officially to build and man ships in United States ports, to have her officers paid through United States banks, and to give every evidence of approval of her action. Suppose, further, that Scottish bonds, issued by the revolting portion of the British Commonwealth, were bought on a very large scale by United States citizens who evidently had faith that Scotland would be successful and would repay the investment in full.
Would Mr. Coe, when the struggle had proved futile, and Scotland had been forced to recognize once more the suze- rainty of the British Government, advocate the immediate payment by the British Government of the money loaned to Scotland to assist her in breaking away from that Government, or would he say : " You backed the wrong side, my friends. Have better judgment next time " ? One wonders.
The Spectator, like every thinking American, seeks and desires a better understanding between England and the United States. Perhaps a somewhat wider and more accurate knowledge of United States history would help along the way.
[This question has often been discussed in the Spectator. The debts to which reference was made were contracted long before the Civil War and had nothing to do with Secession.
—ED. Spectator.]
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