Show FRANCE IS 15 READY FOR DEBT I PARlEY iLEY PLANS TO BE PROPOSED ARE NOT ANNOUNCED BUT IDEA IS SUGGESTED Washington Predicts Leniency O Of Terms If Definite Settlement Can Be Reached At The Conference Washington Washington Officials Officials of the Ule American Amer ican scan government have read with Interest interest interest in in- terest reports from Paris the terms the French debt commission commission com com- mission when it arrives shortly after aner the middle of next month probably r would present for settlement of the four Cour bUll billion on dollar doUar debt of France to the United States How far the suggested suggested sug sug- suggested terms of ag agreement reflect the I i opinion or the expectation of government government govern govern- ment and financial authorities in France officials here were unable to determine but it is said that in any event there was no reply they could make mal until after aCter the arrival of oC the I. I French delegation and until it had bad c presented its proposals to the American Ameri I Ameri-I can debt funding commission The general opinion in circles close to the latter body was that the various debt settlement terms now coming from Crom Paris are trial which are t being sent up for the purpose of sounding out public sentiment in the United States and if possible obtaining obtaining obtain obtain- ing some slant also on the attitude of the government itself There could be bo no objection it was stated to such a sounding out ut process and there could be no criticism of the French if this was the motive behind the unofficial debt conversations now going Joing on Nothing further has been hear in regard to the coming of the French commission The date of their sailing sailing sailing sail sail- ing September 16 is the tho only official off off- cial advice which has been received by the government and none of the names of the delegates has been an an- The question as to whether the French minister of finance JoEeph Joseph Jo Jo- Joseph seph Caillaux himself will accompany the mission is still an uncertainty as fas as Washington is concerned The delegation is expected here about September 23 I There is one outstanding fact in connection with the coming French I negotiations in the opinionS opinion of officials I dais here and that is that France is serious in IIi her intentions On this account account account ac ac- ac- ac count it is believed an agreement wil be reached France they believe j recognizes the importance of oC getting this stumbling block to her future economic program out of the way and I realizes that the American government government government govern govern- ment does not desire a mere gesture gesture gest ure nrc but is anxious to have the debt question settled It is is- asserted in well advised quarters that the delegation delegation delegation dele dele- gation which is coming means menns business bus bus- iness mess just as did the Belgian mission r and that the will to settlement should mean accomplishment i. i 1 While no official reports have been L received h here re as to the terms which the thc French will vill demand there is no secret to the fact that the they will ask aski for lenient settlement for fOl easy rates i of oC interest a long period in which to 7 meet their payments and probably also for a moratorium It is believed in well informed quarters that the French were somewhat disappointed at the terms of ot the Belgian settlement holding that It would be a precedent in certain particulars While France will not have the same plea as Belgium Bel Bel- glum gium Ium where the moral obligations incurred In connection with the actual war debt of ot that country was recognized recognized recognized and taken into consideration ItIs Itis it itis is thought France will bring forward f certain other claims of leniency including in in- r the great ravages to her territory territory ter- ter k and properties and the immense immen- immen se Sc sums which it had been necessary t to spend for reconstruction work not yet completed ft |