Evening star., 1919-03-25

signed to interfere rather tnan IaciH-
tate the payment of even the interest
on the gigantic burdens Whlch haSe
been imposed.
France, England and Italy today are
f1oundering. They admit it. Their EN-
issaries in Paris have made IL plalh
with considerable frankneSS tnat un-
less some logical means OF staplllzlns
currency of their respective countries
is reached, unless some dennlte sys-
TEN of assuming the burdens OF the
war is adopted and unless all nations
ioin hands in removing these onerous
burdens imposed there must be an
era of retrogression throughout Eu-
rope, which places Europe Wnere she
was more than a century ago.
Task for Commission.
How can these burdens of war be
assumed that each OF the european
roads to advancement within the short
est period of time?
This is the question that has given
the finance commission Of the peace
conference much worry. 1t Is the
problem which is harder than any
other to solve in view Of the many
conflicting views advanced by various
groups of delegates. 1t is problem
which may not be solved during the
life Of the conference. but lett TO the
international financial experts OF the
world who will operate under the
league of nations.
There is one opinion as manifest
through the various proposals OF
European delegates which is quite
general. The United States so far has
escaped with less expense in the war
than any other nation. The United
States, say European countries. mas
lost fewer men and emerges from the
conflict unscathed economically as
well as financially. The United States
should bear a major portion OF the
burden more than any other single na-
ton
Plan Many Burdens for q. s.
In the many proposals for settle
ment of the financial difficulties the
United States is not specifically men
toned. She need not be. For behind
every plan there are ways and means
to fasten the burden on America, a
burden from which she could not
emerge from under in century.
1t has not been a difficult PROPOSE
ton for the shrewd members Of the
finance commission to detect 'the col
ored gentleman in the woodpile, as
one of them expressed 1T They have
resisted openly and heatedly against
any proposition that will place burdens
portion than Is just.
America is willing to help the
European nations by means OF loans.
but she will go no farther, for 1t
generally is agreed that the billions
which the American government
already has loaned to the allied
governments in Europe will not be
recovered. The American govern
ment may get the interest on this
sum. Perhaps she will not. tenn.
porarily at least. The members OF
the peace commission In Paris are
not the least optimistic in this
regard owing to the utterly chaotic
conditions prevailing in European
finance.
q. s. Must Show Leniency.
That America will be forced to
show the utmost leniency in her
financial dealings with European
powers for decades is admitted. 1t
was tacit agreement of Europe's
inability to pay in full that started
the movement for the cancellation
Of all American government loans
made during the period of the war.
This viewpoint, however, based
largely upon sentimental grounds.
has faded to great measure
Americans in Paris believe that this
would be an unwise policy from
Europe's. Some even are more
frank. and declare that 1t would not
only be misinterpreted by the Euro
pean mind, which would not under
stand such generosity, and be liable
TO misinterpret it as an American
commerce and industry might pros
per through international trade.
Furthermore, it Is such talk OF
this utterly unprecedented procedure
that has led not only European
people, but governments as well. to
believe that dollars grow on trees
in the United States. and tnasmuch
as they are plucked only for the
reaching out, the United States can
well afford to saddle herself. in
directly. Of course. with the burdens
imposed by the war.
Pool" Proposed.
One of the favorite proposals heard
| in Paris is that there be created as
part of the league of nations a great
| financial commission which shall Gre
! ate central pool into which will
be dumped all moneys received from
Germany and other of the central
powers. Furthermore. each country
would be assessed a certain amount
| to bring the total amount in such
pool up to such q point as to cover
| the total gigantic expenses OF the
war. If this could not be realized
It is also suggested that such pool
be large enough to furnish interest
sums. which will, through q period
of the years. finally defray the cost
| of the war.
European delegations are careful to
stipulate that such payments as shall
be made by the various nations to the
central league of nations pool shall
be gaueed by the extent Of each ma =
! tion's war effort. For instance, II
| Great Britain's war bill 10 greater
! that any other and she can show that
her losses are greater and reconstruc-
| ton tasks much more immense than
| the United States. then the United
states would have to pay more into
| the central pool
| BY inverse ratio the United States
would be able to draw less beneflt
from such pool. as European nations
are not yet ready to admit that Amer.
| lean financial and human losses in
the war are as important as theirs.
If such system were established the
question arises:
..yUh.ro will ALMOST hu nj r,,n< Yto1u