We've almost paid for World War II!

[Darat]

A fascinating article about British war debts: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4757181.stm

Apparently this year we will make the last payment on our WWII loans from the USA!

[Sir Arthur Mortal Coyle]

Interesting
Thanks for the loan USA and thanks again for overlooking that small trifling matter of cashflow in WW1

Just don't mention the war Darat.

[Doubt]

Well we cannot let that happen.

Time to start another huge war. Just to keep the status quo and all that.

What would it take to get Germany to leave the EU and start things up again? Any old Prussians around to kick things off? Maybe even a Hapsburg willing to do the work?

I will have to talk to the trilateral commission about this at once!

[NeilC]

With the EU we don't need a war for debt. We can just pour billions down the drain paying farmers to produce food and wine they immediately destroy. Much more efficient.

[Anti_Hypeman]

You got a bargain. We will be paying for the Iraq invasion for 200 or more years.

[ranson]

Yeah, if ya'll could make that payment directly to China, as they're doing our financing these days . . .

[CFLarsen]

A fascinating article about British war debts: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4757181.stm

Apparently this year we will make the last payment on our WWII loans from the USA!
How about you handing over our fleet?

[Carnivore]

Ahh, yeah, about that fleet, the thing is... [runs away]

[kookbreaker]

Gotta love this part:


Many Britons felt that the US loans should be considered as part of its contribution to the World War I effort.


:rolleyes:

[NoZed Avenger]

Apparently this year we will make the last payment on our WWII loans from the USA!


Yah. About that.


Well, China's looking to get some money from the US right now, so we need to keep this payment on the QT.

The government is asking that the last payment be sent to me so that I can hold it for them, just for a bit. What China doesn't know won't hurt 'em, eh?

So I've PMd the payment details; just have the money wired straight to me and I'll handle the rest.

[Almo]

Very interesting article! Thanks for the link dood.

[LW]

Apparently this year we will make the last payment on our WWII loans from the USA!

Welcome to the club of countries that have paid their WWII debts.

It was getting lonely, after 50 years of solitude.

[Ryokan]

How about you handing over our fleet?

Are you refering to the war of 1812?

Oh, the sadness of that war, when Brittain forced Denmark to enter the war on the side of Napoleon, and as a consequence had to give Norway to Sweden as 'war reperations' :(

[TragicMonkey]

Dear BRITAIN,

Hello I am Doctor Kwele Mbacha of LAGOS, NIGERIA. As a Good Christian I am seeking to Assist good Christians elsewhere. I have heard of your DEBTS and wish to help Pay Them Off with A ONE MILLION BILLION DOLLARS. Please respond with your Bank Account Numbers and I will Deposit the Money in there. Do not tell anyone about this Transaction or we will be Taxed by the Government of Nigeria. Please respond quickly.

Sinrecely,

Doctor KWELE MBACHA

[Darat]

I know we still owe the USA $40 billion but it appears we are owed $110 billion so if you could just wait until we can collect that....

[Dark Jaguar]

It would be good for you if you could have that money by tomorrow. I just mean, you know, 24 hours, that would probably be best for both of us. Remember, tomo- ahh you'll remember...

[Ben Best]

Apparently this year we will make the last payment on our WWII loans from the USA!


What does it mean that the Americans were so rich to be making such loans after having devoted so many resources to fighting the Germans and Japanese?

[kevin]

What does it mean that the Americans were so rich to be making such loans after having devoted so many resources to fighting the Germans and Japanese?

Mostly it means we were late to both WWI and WWII. Other countries spent their money first, then we lent it to them to continue while not actually fighting.

Plus we weren't under direct attack (except for Pearl Harbor, which destroyed a fleet but not the manufacturing capable of making a new one).

[Kerberos]

With the EU we don't need a war for debt. We can just pour billions down the drain paying farmers to produce food and wine they immediately destroy. Much more efficient.
IIRC the EU doesn't do that anymore. This excellent policy was sadly sacrificed on the altar of public relations. Still if you really need to build up your dept, I'm sure France, Italy and Germany will let you have some of theirs. And for a very reasonable price too.

[andyandy]

wow....let's just hope that they'll continue to be so nice about that WWI debt......:D


And while the UK dutifully pays off its World War II debts, those from World War I remain resolutely unpaid. And are by no means trifling. In 1934, Britain owed the US $4.4bn of World War I debt (about £866m at 1934 exchange rates). Adjusted by the Retail Price Index, a typical measure of inflation, £866m would equate to £40bn now, and if adjusted by the growth of GDP, to about £225bn.

[tom m.]

maybe thats why our economy is falling apart right now. hmmmm.

[Dcdrac]

Wander if thre would be any mileage in reverting to the Bretton Woods ssytem but modified slightly, with a global currency backed up by a genuinely global bank not at the behest of the Foreign Affairs department of anyone country?

[Dragonrock]

I say we call in the WWI loan and foreclose on the UK.

I hear the island is almost as big as some Wal Marts.