Flandin, M. Laval's Finance Minister, displayed a greater sense of
realities (perhaps as result of his flying visit to London) when lie observed to an interviewer that Germany could obviously pay nothing now on either account, but that there was no reason why she should not pay something later. That is a quite reason- able proposition, though the world, including Prance, would unquestionably be better off if reparations and debts could be wiped out altogether. It is a bad moment to put the debt part of that proposal up to America, with the Federal budget showing a deficit that now amounts to £560,000,000, but even yet a -reasonable attitude in Europe over reparations would almost certainly find its reflection in a reasonable attitude in 'Arneriea over debts. But at the point we have reaehed now, Europe can only be reasonable over reparations if she is prepared to be reasonable over priVate crediti and tariffs at the same time. It is not a bad sign that France, Germany and- Belgium are all anxious te.cliskr-5 tariffs with this country. * *
Previous page
