The sun., 1919-05-27
VANDERBILT WARNS
AMERICA OFDUTy
Civilization Of the World De-
ponds on Quick and I'm
stinted Aid, He Says.
BoLsHEvIsM THREATENS
President Of National City
Bank Gives Account Of Sit
uation in Europe.

Unless the. United States promptly and
unstintedly extends credit to Europe. all
OF Europe. the civilization Of that con-
tlnent and perhaps Of the whole world
will surely go 20 st1iash--that is the
substance Of a warning delivered before
the Economic Club at the Hotel .Astor
last night by Frank a. vanderlip, pres,.
dent OF the National City Bank, who
returned recently after studying financial
and economic conditions In the countries
west of Germany.
Mr.. Vanderlips warning vas sup
ported emphatioally by Robert j. Cald-
well. the other speaker OF the evening.
who 10 president of the Mid-European
Association and whb has Just returned
also from a survey of conditions in Eu-'
rope Mr.. Caldwell said fatty that
America has failed utterly to comprehend
the gravity OF industrial conditions in
Europe and TO understand the peril for
this country unless hunger is checked.
1t was not "a cheerful picture which
was presented by Mr.. Vanderiip and Mr..
Caldwell, each Of whom said with the
utmost earnestness that unless America
helps Europe to get TO work veyy soon,
provides the raw materials that will
start up shops and factories, and pro-
vides vast quantities of food until re-
sumed work brings It's natural prosperity
and contentment there will be more
Red revolution and a likelihood Of Boil
shevism spreading across the Atlantic
Both speeches were heard intently by
the 1900 members of the club who
gathered in the Astor's grand ballroom
last night. 800
Larger Aspects of. the Situa ton.
Henry Morgenthau was to have pre-
sided at the dinner, but he is still in
Europe, and George w. Wickersham
acted as Soastms ster. He presented Mr..
vanderlip as one whose advice the coun-
try need not hesitate to, follow. Mr..
Nanderlip said:
After seeing England and all of
Europe west Of Germany, know the
views I held regarding the effect OF
the war were absurdly inadequate. We
have not begun to understand tho full
import of what has happened to Europe.
There arc forces of destruction which
might be let loose as a result, of after
war conditions that would be more fear
full than the great war itself. There
are starvation, idle industry, crippled
transportation, paralyzed markets, in
jured morale, shattered Government
credits. 49, -
we cannot gauge present chances
Of recovery by any experience with for
mer postwar conditions The difficult
ties are entirely different from those
existing after the Napoleonie war. The
whole industrial aSe has developed
since then. The mechanism of society
Is indefinitely more complex. The popu-
lation of Europe at the close OF the
Napoleonic war was III. 200, 900. Now
Il is 44o. 100000. Europe was able to
feed the increase only because she could
manufacture and exchange the prodaG{s
of her factories for S6od.S Xstate- Or
society so built up makes, the contin,i-
ance Of industry on prewar scale es-
sential to supporting the life of the
people. Europe is-bdt a great factory
community dependent In the main upon
world trade for much OF It's food and
raw materials. "a - -.s.-.s
EnEiand's Case Desperate.
Take the situation Of England. There
Is the most thickly populated country
In the world. with 700 people to the
square mile. It's agriculture little more
than compares with the kitchen gardens
about mill town. Its factories must
run II all its people are to live in Eng
land. For the last twenty years Eng
land has held her predominance in inter-
national industry in no small part be-
cause Of her comparatively low wage
scale. This low wage scale. in conneo-
ton with rising living cost. has not been
adequate to meet normal and proper
living requirements. Labor has not
earned enough to keep q roof over Its
head and one million houses for work.
n'en Is made a national debt. and will
IN part be charge on the national
purse. In the future England must have
resumption of European demand for
her goods or she cannot get the outside
credits with which to buy food and
materials. So her future Is absolutely
bound up with the Continents future.
France Is facing an annual budget
OF 0O0.000,o00 francs. Far more i'm
po7tant than her financial difficulties,
however. Is her industrial position. A
great part of her industries were de-
stroyed, but those which had been I'M
touched were. in large measure, idle.
II !s the idleness of industry on the con-
tnent, the stoppage of production and
the enormous difficulties in the way of
restarting production that Is the most
serious feature OF the after war situa-
ION. Unless industry can be started
there will be fdleness. want and a dis
turbance OF the social order. The adj
N''NN "a ZIG SOSI VI llNilB Idb C1CccQeu
me advance in wages. great as that has
been. and workmen have become sus-
pic!ous OF the efficacy of advances in
wages. Everywhere there is a serious
minority questioning the fundamental
principles OF property rights and the
present social order.
america must DE made to see the |
fa2ts in their true relations and conset |
elences, for America Is almost the sole |
nope II America will understand the |
situation and will do her duty. she Isl
omply able to give the necessary help |
This aid mpst be given in big spirited. I
scientific way. II Is useless to give II in |
srudging measure or piecemeal to a few
countries, We must regard the European |
situation as q unit: We must be awake |
70 the danger Of delay. Hundreds of |
thousands Of people have died OF starva- !
uon. These figures are not adJectlves |
Iney are statistical, facts" !