New-York tribune., 1919-05-27


by current conversation in England and
in France, and they were that Italy
came into this war when she got her
price; that the greatest thing that she
accomplished was phenomenal defeat,
and that when the war was over she
wanted to claim the credit and grab
all the swag she could.
"Well, that view is not right. When
Italy came into the war she came to
the side that at that time certainly did
not look as if it had the best chances.
She did as brilliant fighting in those
hard places as men ever did in the
world. By treachery, through surprise,
she suffered a horrible defeat. Her
heart was torn open, but she kept her
courage and put the enemy back. She
defended a line as long as the line
across France. She lost as many men
in proportion to her population as
England's loss, and she has buried
herself under a crushing debt. My
sympathy is with Italy"
at is easy to say that this Is too
excited view, that it is seen with too
imaginative a brain, that nothing is
ever so good or so bad in the md as
the indications picture. 1t can be said
that the European population is COM
posed Of industrious people, that the
land, houses and most of the factories
are still there; that there may be suf-
fering and hardships, but to talk about
a civilization being destroyed is hys-
terical and unwarranted; that things
will straighten out 'in the long run.
"I would answer to this contented
view that hungry stomachs will not
wit for things to straighten out In
the long 1un.' In past history there is
nothing comparable with the present
intricate organization of society. Ma
tonal life is based on international in
tcrdependence. Industrial life Is high
ly specialized. There has been vast
growth of population that can only be
fed when industry goes on and inter-
rational trade is continued
Currency Situation Chaotic
Former war debts bore hardly
comparable relation to present war
debts. There is chaotic currency
situation which would alone be an
enormous problem to untangle. There
are insclvent governments, judged by
the old rules of finance, but the indus
trial paralysis is even of vastly more
Importance than the financial con-
fusion
America must be made to see the
facts in their true relations and con-
sequences, for America is amost the
sole hope. If America will understand q
the situation and will do her duty she
is amply able to give the necessary
help. This aid must be given in big
spirited, scientific way. 1t is useless
to give it ia grudging measure or
piecemeal to 3 few countries. We
must regard the European situa4..on as
a unit; we must be awake t. che dan
ger of delay.
Hundreds Of thousands of people
have died of starvation. Thasc figures
are not adjectives. They are statisti-
cal facts.
"The highest authority believes that
the food situation will be worse in the
spring of 1920 than it has been this
year. The supply of Russia is cut off.
Rumania, which has been a large ex-
porter of grain, has lost her work cat
tie, and, because of shortage of work
cattle and of Seed has planted only
enough for hey own people. Poland
| has planted only about one third Of her
land. In those countries east Of Ger
many transportation is SO broken
down that there will be starvation, be-
cause the food which might be avail
able cannot be moved.
Hand in hand with Americas duty
is Americas opportunity Never be-
fore in all history has a nation been
SO fortunate. We are now the worlds 8
reservoir of capital. Other nations
have been that before, but in addition,
we are the reservoir Of raw material.
The combination of these two advan-
tages makes our position relatively in
comparable. There is need for charity
in America, but it is not d charity of
giving; it is charity OF mind. We
should charitably view the condition of
these European people, make every al
lowance for their chaotic state of mind
their depression, their shaken morale
eve should be charitable toward
their mistakes, charitable of their ap-
parent grasping shown at the peace
conference, where they seem to have
clutched in every direction for some
thing to ease their horrible wounds
We must be charitable toward their
preiudices, toward their chauvinism.
"Nor will it do for us to feel that
we can stand apart, and, while SYM
pathizing with these suffering couu-
tries, ourselves enjoy uninterrupted d
prosperity. Wherever want and hunger
become severe enough there will be
blazing revolution. If the blaze should
become widespread the Atlantic would
not be broad enough to keep us safe
from It's sparks.
"The great danger is in America not
understanding, not comprchending
what is its duty. IF it does under
stand, it is amply able to supply the
needed remedy. The remedy is by nc
means purely financial. What we shoulc
supply is not credits to exhausted ma
tional treasures, but the actual thing.
necessary to restart industry We
should supply food, machinery, raw
materials and railroad equipment, tt
be paid for in time and the payment
guaranteed by the best security the
nations can give.
at is unsafe to do that for certain
countries and leave others unprovidet
for. There is no safety anywhere il
Europe until all Europe has beer
started back toward normal life
Wherever there is failure to give tha
helpful start there will be danger spot