The Washington herald., 1920-04-19
Europe, With Exception Of
Germany, Rapidly Re-;
gaining Lost Ground.
Many Industries APP
proach Normal Condi-
tions.
FRANCE AND
BELGIUM SHOW
RAPID PROGRESS

Until recently we have known lit
tie or nothing about the true con-
dition of affairs in Europe. The
explanation of our ignorance is
simple. In the first place we were
led to hasty conclusions by the
emotional reports of early observ-
ers inspired by the visual evidence
of destruction and the sentimental
appeals of the afflicted people. In
the second place sufficient time had
not elapsed for a definite expression
of the saving factors in the situa-
ton. The destruction was magni-
fled a hundred times by observers
who stood in a tea cup and visioned
the rim as the horizon of all
Europe. Anybody who stands on
the battlefields of the great war
cannot but be impressed with the
destruction visible on every side.
prise only a very limited area-mil-
lions and millions of acres and
many towns never saw a soldier
other than those they sent to the
war. A good walker could cover
the entire battle area of Belgium
in half day. The French field was
hardly more important than that of
Belgium. At first we believed that
Belgium had been wiped off the
map and later we believed that
practically all of Northern France
had suffered the same fate. We
know now that the problem of the
physical restoration of Europe is
comparatively unimportant that
the destruction of tools and ma
chinery wrought by the war has
been greatly exaggerated.
What we do not appreciate fully
as yet is the almost complete de-
struction of the economic morale of
the people of some of the afflicted
countries, particularly France. and
the economic disorganization that
resulted from the peace. Germany's
morale has been affected even more
than that of France. but strangely
enough the impairment. of economic
morale in Germany is due to de-
spair. while that in France is due
to hope. In other words. Germany
has ceased to function economically
because the German mind has des-
paired at the task of building
new economic organization to re-
place that scrapped at Versailles,
while the French until recently
seemed content to sit on the front
door step and wait until the Ger
mans served dinner. even refusing
the Germans the use of the confis-
Gated utensils which lay rusting in
the backyard, which is to say that
the French people expected the Ger
man indemnity to usher in the mil
lennium and so ceased to exert
themselves. But the hope of the
French poilu that he would be able
to live in the future on the fruits
of German industry was not the
only imponderable that tended to
destroy morale The worker. the
munition maker and man behind
the lines in France. in England and
even in this country. let down the
minute the armistice was signed
and they have been "soldIerinr"
ever since. Humanity considered. il
is possible to feel a lot of sympathy
FOR this attitude. especially in those
who underwent. severe physical and
mental suffering on account of the
war, but economically considered
il is impossible to escape the dam
ger it implies not only to those who
assume the attitude but to the rest
OF the world as well. Economic con-
siderations must govern-if the
world would eat il must work-and
his applies to those who were vic
torious in the war as well as TO
those who were not. to those who
bore large part in it as we'll as
to those who bore small part.
Forward Steps
IT proof were needed that disin-
clination to work is the main de-
terrent to economic recovery in Eu-
rope. it could be found at it's own
-t""r-in Belgium and in Czecho-
SlOvakia and to some extent in
italy. Belgium is coming back"
with tremendous strides because the
bcIgians are willing to work and
are working. Belgium has not only