The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-06-17
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~ SSSSsSSS1zS who gathered them Rowland
-: Thomas in the New York Sunday
AA<N World makes this statement:
sSssXSS7EzE[ At this time Mr.. II. P. Dawson,
esee44sss7Zs.A partner in the firm of J. P Nor.
ECf:& gan, seems more thoroughly quail
p - - fed than any other person in Amer
lea TO express an authoritative
opinion on conditions in Europe.
He has extremely keen, clear mind He is
man of the largest affairs, accustomed by many
years OF business experience to grasp the essen
tial details of complex situations And top of
ms unusual personal qualifications trustwor-
thy observer and reporter, he has just, through
ms position as head of international organiza-
ton, had put in his possession the latest and COM
pletest mass of information Obtainable anywhere
he is chairman Of the board of governors and
therefore ex-officio head OF the League of Red
Cross societies which comprises all the Red Cross
societies in the world except those of the central
powers, and has just returned from the first
ference Of this organizations held in Geneva.
AT this conference the European situation
the main object of consideration, and TO give
basis for discussion and action, experts were
brought in from the field all over Europe and
their frst-hand reports were received and exam
1ned The result the composite picture OF
postwar Europe in the winter and spring OF 1920
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. Th1s
is not an interview But when his unique posi-
ton a of information pressed on
his attention, he granted the Sunday World &C
cess to his data and what follows may be taken as
a substantially accurate and complete statement
of the facts as he sees them. It's significance can
therefore hardly be Overemphaszed.
1.-THE catastrophe wrote Mr.. Balfour, chair
man of the Council of the League of Nations, to
the Red Cross conference at Geneva, rs of un-
exampled magnitude and IN the communi-
cation referred TO "the horrors with which are
faced" and stated they had reached appalling
proportions"
These are very strong expressions coming
from parsonage Of such standing They indicate
a recognition of disaster.
Is there any hope of setting matters right? Can
Europe come back? Or is she bankrupt? The
present summary of known facts will be at
tempt to indicate answer to that question.
At the outset 1t is necessary to clarity the sit
uation by making certain distinctions. Europe
stretches over 100000 square miles Its people
number 460OO0,0OO more than quarter Of the
$ globes estimated population. Furthermore, at
present Europe unit is nOn-existent, If it
existed. 1t has been split by the into various
groupings, in which conditions widely differ.
The neutrals, unravaged Spain, Switzerland,
Denmark, Norway and Sweden, with 10000
600 population, constitute group. Defeated
Germany and Austria form another Russia is
third. The big Four of the European allies
England, France Italy and Belgium-are another.
And the less stabilized countries of the central
and eastern regions are a fifth. Between these
groups conditions vary greatly and this must be
kept in mind in considering whether Europe is
solvent bankrupt.
ABOUT our principal allies IN the west there is
no question They are strongly going concerns
still, and, despite their own distress, are doing
their best to pull their neighbors of the Slough
OF DespOnd. The French peasant is working and
the French artisan, despite a sad need of raw
materials, has not lost his habit of industry and
thrift. The encouraging fact about France today
is that her people are fully alive TO the serious
ness Of her problem and going forward brave
1y to solve it.
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 He is truly wise statesman, and under
his leadership Italy be relied on to do her
might have been expected, is strongly on the mend
and England is meeting her problems of recon
struction with quiet courage and sturdy common
sense. She is doing each days work, and at the
same time rendering all assistance her resources
will permit to the countries the continent
Belgium and France and Italy and England
are asking charity Of the United States. Their
peoples proud as we are-eager as we are
to work out their own national destinles and car
~ on their businesses. They seek only the CD
portunity to regain their economic strength. And
these countries have population of I25,OOO 600
Combining them with the 100000 neutrals it
appears that about third OF the people OF Eu-
rope could not be referred to bankrupt Some
OF them IN serious difficulties but they have
plenty Of hope left, well as energy for the
tasks OF reconstruction.
This distinction drawn, and it being under
stood that Germany, because her problems are so
peculiar to herself, is left out Of the discussion
it is not too much to say that In all the rest of
EuropeAexcepting, possibly, Russia, about which
reports are NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. has broken
down For something like 2OOOOOOOO people
disease bereavement and suffering are present
in practically every household, while food and