Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-06
Europe in a Bad Way.

The fact is that the family of Euro
pean nations is in bad way. 1t is
really worse off than it was at the
end of the hostilities. The European
families are not earning their living
The babies in the Austrian nursery
have the collie. The Balkan boys
won't behave. 1t is question
whether Poland will seriously get to
work. The big brother, Russia. no
longer contributes his wages to the
family sustenance and has definitely
become a tramp.
If under these circumstances Ger
many, the biggest one in the family.
refuses to work, the family council
at Paris is likely to break up in
general quarrel through its inability
to establish its parental control. For
this reason Gen. Shuts utterances
were the most valuable contribution
any public man has made since the
armistice. not only as warning, but
as a promise of better things. 1t is
the unuttered realization of this stu
alton which has led to a halt in the
peace conference, in the hope of OBJ
tanning a new directive toward the
accomplishment of it's purpose.
Await Germany's Attitude.
If Germany sets to work and shows
willingness to retrieve her crimes
the allies may adopt a policy more in
conformity with international CO.
operation and general disarmament.
If something like an orderly demo-
cratic government comes out Of the
present turmoil in Germany there is
still hope that a readjustment of Eu-
ropean matters may be reached which
will avoid immediaee conflict and the
growth of further DISCRIMINATION.
The detailed rigidity, however. of
| the terms of the treaty with Germany,
unless interpreted by the different
governments with great broadmind
edness, will inevitably lead to the i'm
m ediate disagreement and QuarrelS
which will prolong and increase the
abnormal conditions in Germany.
Surrender of Cows May Provoke.
AS an example. the immediate sur
render by Germany of 100000 cows,
when there is already insufficient milk
for the children in the German cities.
cannot fail to stimulate unrest and
! disorder. II the present governments
| and the members of the peace confer
ence do not read the handwriting on
the wall and change the attitude
| which since the armistice has directed
their actions the situation will go
from bad to worse.
| 1t is under these adverse conditions,
| weighed down with the burden Of a
stupid treaty to which it is bound
with heavy chains. that the league of
nations starts on its arduous journey.
The organizers of the league, how
ever, have not lost courage. They
are finding many branches for the
league which are not indicated in its
covenant.
Among the most important is a plan
for an economic department which
| will seek to develop policy Of in
dustrial and financial cooperation
| among the members of the league.
| This move of the organizers OF the
! league is encouraging and shows that
the members appreciate the needs of
the present lamentable economic Sit
uation in Europe, which is the princi-
nal obstacle in the ay of recovery
Of, every nation from the effects of
the war.
Chance to Esta blish Prestige.
Should the league make a success
in this matter it will go far to estab-
lish it's prestige and permanent utility
among the nations. To do SO. how
ever, the league must become a real
mart of the life Of each nation. The
covenant indicates no links by which
this end might be accomplished The
defect, however. could be remedied by
the organizers of the league.