The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-05
LAMONT'S VIEW OF
EUROPE'S PLIGHT
BY HOLLAND

by HOLLAND
New York, August 4.-(Special)- If
Thomas w. Lamont found time to write
dairy in which he recorded each even
ing those things which took place at
the peace conference it would surely
be of value to the historians who, when
the proper time comes tells the story
of the conference, in all its aspects.
When Mr.. Lamont was comm ssioned by
President Wilson who acted through
the secretary of the treasury Mr.. Glass
to serve in Paris and at the peace con-
ference and in other places so that
the representatives Of the United States
could be abundantly fortified with in
formation. with facts and with expert
opinion. the appointment was recog-
nized as possibly the wisest which
could have been made.
Since Mr.. Lannon'S return, he having
come back upon the George Washing
ton fellow passenger with President
Wilson, he has been silent as the
sphinx If he has told to his best
friends any of his experiences at the
SNhIStSnSS, llidb W DIS uOn6 III confluence
that has been we'll kept in confidence.
Yet it was known that the services
which Mr.. Lamont was able to give
" ere of the highest value. A. c. Bed
ford upon his return a few days ago
from Europe spoke in terms of I'M
measured admiration of Mr.. Lamont's
industry and of the value of the in
formation and suggestions which he
gave, many of which were acted upon.
Others who have ~ Ia
mont's service have spoke in like terms
of it.
Eut the only reference he has made
to that service was a brief incidental
remark at Harvard university day
or two ago when he compared the
peace, serenity and charm which he
discovered on the Harvard campus, with
the days when he was. to use his own
words. working like dog at the
peace conference at Paris.
MR.. LAMONTS SUGGESTION
1t may be that Mr.. Lamont thought
it worth while to wait until he Joined
with some of his fellow alumni of Har-
ward in making preparations for the
securing of as much as eleven million
dollars from the graduates before he
made a statement of his experiences in
Europe. 1t is the opinion of Harvard
alumni in this city that upon Mr. La
mont will be placed much of the respon-
sibility for securing from the alumni
the eleven million dollars which are
needed in order adequately to endow
the university with an income whereof y
the Instructors can hereafter receive
fair compensation. s
Only once in Mr.. Lamont's address to
the Harvard graduates did he refer di-
rectly to his experiences at the peace
conference. But that reference was
dramatic and pictured forth in brief but
impressive manner certain things
which he saw at the conference. He
| said that Clemencea,s Lloyd George
and Orlando, as he saw them at the
conference day by day, did not wiring
! their hands over the past or the pre-
sent but they revealed in emphatic man
ner their great apprehension for the
| future. They spoke in terms of wonder
| when they asked one another who was
| to rebuild their broken states, who was
| to furnish the new idea to build upon.
| THEY LOOK TO AMERICA
| Even then it was apparent that these
| allied statesmen at the conference
were looking to America and 1t was
Americas help to which Mr.. Lamont
made chief reference in his address. He
put into his remarks a new thought not
| heretofore publicly uttered by anyone.
He had no doubt that this country
! would furnish the necessary credits and
the needed supplies with which Europe
can be rebuilt. He was sure that the
ways and means by which this can be
zone would be worked out in the United
States. In this respect he does not diff
! fer from others For almost all the
] financiers and practically all of the in
dustrial leaders who have visited Eu-
! rope since the war was ended and have
returned to the United States have
| spoken publicly and especially infor-
mally to their friends in terms which
reflected confidence similar to that OF
Mr.. Lamont.
NEED YOUTH, BRAINS, ENERGY
| What Mr.. Lamont did say that was
rev and has been spoken of here since
he made his address as very pertinent
and timely, was that what Europe needs
in addition to our credits ans our sup
| plies, is brains. energy and n-powei
as these have been since the war be-
gan demonstrated to exist in the United
| States
The great leaders upon the Other
side, even Hindenberg, have spoken
with Amusement of the celebrity and the
sufficiency with which the United
States within a few months not only
raised and equipped an army of two
million men and then transported thai
army across the sea, but also supplied
our allies with food, munitions ant
| equipment. This achievement opened
| the eyes of many in Europe who in the
| rast have been persuaded that the PEG
| pie Of the United States were a money
/ loving people and subordinated every
| thing to their love of gain.
Mr. Lamont gave emphasis to thu
new view Of the United States which
now is held by Europe when he stated
that Europe needs not only credits ant
supplies in enormous amounts but alst
needs energy and ability Of the hfghes