The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-06-11
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AA,6H World makes this statement:
h0X3E1 AT fhs time Mr.. II. r DAVIDSON,
2!.s1 partner in the firm. of j.. r.. Nor
vG;":s6 gan seems more thoroughly quail
- Ss.Gs<2 He'd than any other person In Amer
lea to express authoritative
opinion conditions in Europe ii fssS
He has an extremely Keen, clear mind. He is a
man of the largest afaiss.E accustomed by many
years of business experience to grasp the
ti"l details of complex situations. And on tops OF
his unusual personal qualifications trustwor
thy observer and reporter, he has just. through
his position as head of an international organza-
ii"i had put In his possession the latest and eon-
p.etest mass of information obtainable anywhere
He is chairman of the board of governors and
therefore ex-oificio head Of the League OF Red
Ir"ss societies which comprises all the Red Cross
societies In the wQr!d except those of the central
powers, and has just returned from the first
ference of this organization. held in Geneva.
AT this conference the European situation
.he main object of consideration. and to give a
nass for discussion and action. experts were
brought in from the field ali over Europe and
their frst-land reports received and exalE-
ihed. The result was 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 representativ 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-
i tlon as a source of information pressed on
his attention. he granted the Sunday World ac
cess to his data, and what follows may he taken as
substantially accurate and complete statement
Of the facts as he sees them. Its significance can
;, tterefpre hardly be overemphasiZed.
The catastrophe" wrote Mr.. Bafonr chair
man Of the Council of the League of Nationss tn
the Red Cross conference at Geneva. lis Of un-
'Pxampled magnitude" and hi the conlmunl-
'asation referred to ~tle horrors with which
.i.faccd," and stated they had reached appalling
proportions" Z.
n These are very strong, expressions, coming
fr"" parsonage Of such standing. They indicate
'fecognitiOn Of disaster.
i-,Is there any hope setting matters right? Can
Europe come back?" Or II si,e bankrupt The
present summary of known facts will he at
tempt to indicate an answer to that question.
At the outset 1t is necessary to clarity the sit
uation by making certain distinctions Europe
stretches 3.SOOOOO square miles. Its people
number 460.0O0OO0, more than quarter of the
globes estimated population. Furthermore. at
present Europe unit Is nonexistent. il it ever
existed. 1t has been split by the into various
eror2ngs. in which conditions widely differ.
The neutrals, unravaged Spain. Switzerland
Denmark Norway and Sweden. with over 4OOOO.-
ooo 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 Belgium-are another
And the less stahzed countries of the central
and eastern regfsshs" nre fifth. Between these
groups conditions vary greatly. and this be
kept ln mind in considering whether Europe Is
soven Bankrupt
About our principal allies in the west there is
no question. They strongly going concerns
still. and. despite their own distress are doing
their hest to pull their neighbors out of the Slough
of Despond The French peasant is working and
the French artisan. despite sad need of raw
materials has not lost his habit of industry and
thrift The encouraging fact about France today
Is That her people fully alive TO the serious
ness of her problem and going forward brave
ly to solve It,
Italy, too. despite her great shortage OF raw
material. is looking forward, not backward led
hv one of the great produced by the war Mr.
Nitti. He is truly wise statesman and under
his leadership Italy can be relied to do her
part by herself and her neghbors. Belgium as
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 dapg. each days work, and at the
same time rendering all assistance her resources
VIII permit to the countries the continent
Belgium and France and Italy and England
nre asking no charity of the United States Their
pecptes are as proud as We are-eager as we are
to work out their national destinies and car
ry on their own businesses. They seek only the op-
portunity to regain their economic strength. And
these countries have population Of 125OOOOOO
Combining them with the 10000 900 neutrals II
aIf,ears that about third Of the people Of Eu
FoLe could n0tAbe referred to as bankrupt Some
of them are 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
pecuar to herself. is left out of the discussion
1t Is not too much to say that in all the rest OF
Europe-exceptIng possibly, Russia about which
reports are conflicting civilization has broken
down For something like 200.OOOOO0 peopie
disease. bereavement and suffering are prescnr
T., o-actically every household while fuod mn,