The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-03-24
World in Greater Danger To-
day Than Year Ago When
Germany Was At
tacking.,
CRISIS NOW REACHED
Economic, Financial and Social Col
lapse as Result Of Spread OF
Policy Of the BoI-
shevlkI.
by Fred S. Ferguson, United Press

by Fred s. Ferguson, United Press
Staff Correspondent
PARIS, March 24.-The world faces
an Infinitely more serious situation to-
day that 1t did year ago when the
German superoffensfve was at its
height, according to the belief express
ed In certain official quarters. This,
despite the fact the armistice was
signed five months ago, and the peace
conference has been in session three
months.
|. Instead Of military defeat, it Is
economic, financial and social collapse
that is now threatening. Economic
experts agree that every day lost in
signing peace brings the general cris-
is that much nearer.
There was tendency today, In fact,
to regard Hungary's action In forming
a soviet republic in alliance with the
Russian bolsheviki and declaring war
on he allies, as meaning the CRISIS
already has been reached.
There was no disposition to hide
the belief that the menace of bolshe-
vism had increased a hundred fold by
the new situation in Hungary.
"a year ago every one in the world
was at work" said one of the leading
economic and financial authorities.
If thy were not fighting they were
producing In addition, patriotic i'm
pulse way speeding up work. The
governm ents had control and every
one had to do something. But every
thing is now headed for stagnation
and disorder, unless speedy counter
action is taken.
'In the meantime, the peace con-
ference is in the worst muddle since
it opened. The hour Of decisions hav-
ing arrived, 1t can be stated that the
situation is as follows:
"There is constant tendency to
drag in extraneous questions. For
instance, the Syrian question was
taken I'D and General Allenby was
brought from Egypt to discuss 1t, al
though the Syrian problem has no
bearing whatever on peace with Ger
many. %
"The question OF territorial rights
In Dalmatia is constantly bobbing up.
although it is 1urely one for inter
allied settlement.
''The Polish question has been mis-
handled. The war council Saturday
reached the point where it started on
this matter and decided to adopt the
program originally proposed.
"In economic and financial discus
sions the French are still clinging to
the hope of an International pool Of
war expenditures. in which the United
States would pay the majority Of the
bills. AS an alternative they suggest
decentralization of exchange. The
effect of this would be to bring up
the economic value Of the franc with
consequent loss in the present value
of the dollar.
Meanwhile, France has done moth
ing to date to meet the serious finan-
cial situation confronting her. due to
this hope of some international ar,
rangement. The French people have
not been taxed within fifty per cent
as heavily as the British and Ameri-
cans for carrying on the war, with
the present situation as the result.
Against the set program Of having
all committee reports submitted by
March s, only two major committees
have completed their work-the mill
tary and naval bodies. These terms
are now ready for inclusion in the
peace treaty except for few minor
details. Reparation, boundaries and
postwar economic terms are still in
a fluid state.
"At the present rate of progress the
discussions must drag on for weeks
But certain conferees agreed this can
not be the case. In view Of the re-
ports from Hungary and Germany,
some drastic action appears likely to
be taken within a few days.
"The president and other leaders
have put in long hours and the COM
mittees have done the same but they
Continued on page 81