The Red Cloud chief., 1920-06-17

>NNZ@N World makes this statement:
hsGAXNXk At this time Mr.. ii. =. Dawson,
s3Nnnn partner In the firm Of j. l.. Nor
H":S gan, seems more thoroughly quail
- Ns.sS.x fled than ahy other person In Amer
lea to express an authoritative
opinion Oh conditions in Europe.
He has an extremely keen, clear mind. He Is n
man of the largest affairs, accustomed by many
years OF business experience to grasp the essen
itlal details of complex situations. And on top Of
his unusual personal qualifications as Il trustwOr-
thy observer and reporter, he has just, through
his position as head Of an international organiza-
tion. had put In his possession the latest and CON-
lpletest mass Of information obtainable anywhere.
He Is chairman Of the board Of governors and
therefore ~ex-oihcic head Of the League OF Red
Gross societies which comprises all the Red Cross
societies In the world except those Of the central
powers. and has just returned from the first con-
Terence of this organization, held In Geneva.
At this conference the European situation was
the main object Of consideration, and to give a
Oasis for discussion and action, experts were
brought In from the field all over Europe and
their frst-hand reports were received and exam
sned. The result was the composite picture or
postwar Europe In the winter and spring of 1871
which Mr.. Dawson holds In his mind.
By fixed rule. Mr.. Dawson does not give inter
views to individual representatives Of the press,
nor write signed statements for Individual papers.
He has not broken his rule In this instance. THIS
Is not an interview. But when his unique POSI-
ton as a source of Information was pressed on
his attention. he granted the Sunday World ac-
cess to his data. and what follows may be taken rs
a substantially accurate and complete statement
Of the facts as he sees them. Its Significance can
therefore hardly be overemphasized
"The catastrophe" wrote Mr.. Balfour. chair
man Of the Council Of the League Of Nations. to
the Red Cross conference at Geneva, "is of un-
exampled magnitude" and In the same commune
cation referred to "the horrors with which we are
faced" and stated they had reached appalling
proportions"
These are very strong expressions. coming
from q parsonage Of such standing. They Indicate
a recognition OF disaster.
Is there any hope OF setting matters right7 Can
Europe 'come back" Or Is she bankrupt? The
present summary OF known facts will he an at
tempt to indicate nm answer to that question.
At the outset It is necessary to clarity the sit
uation by making certain distinctions. Europe
stretches over $780, 100 square miles. Its people
number 46D,OO0.O0O, more than a quarter of the
globes estimated population. Furthermore, at
present Europe rs n unit is non-existent. II 1t ever
existed. II has been split by the war into various
groupings, I'm which conditions widely differ.
The neutrals, unravaged Spain, Switzerland,
Denmark, Norway and Sweden, with over 10000
600 population, constitute one group. Defeated
Germany and Austria form another. Russia Is a
third. The big -Four" OF the European allies
England. France Italy and Belglum-are another.
And the less stabilized countries OF the central
and eastern regions are n fifth. Between these
groups conditions vary greatly, and this must be
kept In mind In considering whether Europe IL
solvent or bankrupt.
About our principal allies in the west there Ia
no question. They are strongly going concerns
still, and, despite their own distress, are doing
their best to pull their n~eighbors ont of the Slough
OF Despond. The French peasant Is working, and
the French artisan, despite n sad need of raw
materials. has not lost his habit OF Industry and
thrift. The encouraging TACT about France today
Is that her people are fully alive TO the serious.
ness OF her problem and are going forward brave
ly TO solve II.
Italy, too, despite her great shortage of raw
material, Is looking forward, not backward. led
by one of the great men produced by the war. Mr..
Nitt. lie IL n truly wise statesman, and under
his leadership Italy can be relied on To do her
part by herself and her neighhors. Belgium. ms
might have been expected, Is strongly on the mend
ana England Is meeting her problems OF recon.
'truction with quiet courage and sturdy common
Dense. She is doing each days work, and nj the
fame time rendering all assistance her resources
will permit 10 the countries on the continent
Belgium and France and Italy md England
are asking no charity of the United States. The,,
peoples are rs proud ~ we are-eager as we mr.,
to work out their own national destinies and car
ry on their own businesses. They seek only the on
portunity TO regain their economic strength. AND
these countries have Il population OF 100000 OO
Combining them with the 4OOOO.OOO neutrals A.
appears that about n third Of the people OF En-
rope could not be referred 10 ms %bankrupt. Som,
OF them are in serious difficulties, but they hay,
plenty OF hope left, as well Gs energy, for IN,
tasks of reconstruction.
This distinction drawn, and It being under
stood That Germany, because her problems are 81
peculiar TO herself, Is left out Of the discussion
It is not too much to say that I'm all the rest O
Europe-excepting, possibly, Russia. about whicl
reports are Observation-Disclosures has broke,
down. For something like 200, 200 600 people
disease, bereavement and suffering are presen
b practically every household, while food an,