The Washington herald., 1920-11-23

u
the nonpolitical, economic conference at
Pressburg regard this conference with coldness
since France has insisted that Germany be excluded
The conference has been called for the purpose of
enabling the countries of Central Europe to get
together Tor 4 discussion OF their trade and eco
nomic relations, which might result in doing away
with many artificial restrictions which prevent CO.
operation and hamper the establishment of stable
economic conditions in these countries. The action
OF the French government is to be sincerely re-
gretted, since it invests this conference in an at
mosphere OF political intrigue and serves only to
revive the political and racial jealousies and fears
that have brought about the commercial barriers
which this conference hopes to remove.
The decision to issue the call for a conference
at Pressburg made only after a careful study
OF the economic conditions of the new states which
formerly constituted the Austro-H Hungarian Empire
and is in line with the recommendations OF the
Commission OF international Trade which were
unanimously adopted by the Brussels Conference.
The International Financial Conference affirmed
that Improvement of the financial position largely
depends general restoration as soon as possible
or good will between various nations and shat
states which have been created enlarged as q
result of the should at once re-establish full
and friendly cooperation and arrange for unre-
strieted interchange of commodities m order that
the essential unity OF European economic life may
nomic barrsrs"
: The various races which formerly constituted
the AustroH Hungarian Empire, while they distrusted
and despised each other, were restrained from Civ
ing free rein to the indulgence of their anmostes
by imperial regulations. For the good of the en-
pire they compelled subordinate their jeal-
ousies and cettain cooperation was established
by which the industrial and natural resources of
.the several districts utilized. Now these
sraces have become states and there are no longer
I, imperial restrictions the indulgence OF racial
snupzthies. The economic chaos brought about by
fthe war which has constantly threatened the sur
-yival of these states has not tended establish
spirit OF cooperation between them but has resulted
in spirit of desperate rivalry. Each state, obliv-
ous to the fact that its economic salvation rests
upon its cooperation with its neighbors has by dis
cririnstory systems OF license, tariffs, excses and
export regulations, sought its individual sal
vation vented its spite its neighbors and serious
. y retarded the economic rehabilitation of Central
. Europe.
A frank discussion of the trade, economic and
Y monetary problems, uncolored and unprejudiced by
. political intrigue would be of inestimable value
/. in the solution of the troubles which press upon
these states A conference, suspected from the
: first OF being a maneuver of France to forward
Z her scheme for a Danube confederation, is doomed
TO failure and only retard the establishment of
Wood will and cooperation essential the welfare
of the countries concerned The French determine
ton to erect confederation of the Danube states
project to which most of the states concerned are
: violently opposed, is positive handicap to the
: speedy return of Central Europe normal inter-
course and economic stability 1t is aSpolicy that
had its counterpart in Russian political adventures
' in the Balkans in the days of the Gar. 1t is a
policy inspired by the needs and aspirations Of
the people most concerned but by the ambitions of
! foreign diplomats obsessed with the idea that in
alliances and delicatey adjusted balance of power
!. ies the only guarantee of the European peace.