Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-01
FRIDAY. OCTOBER !, 1920.
The Brussels Conference

IT. HE world financial conference which,
l after several post ponements for one
reason or another, finally assembled in
Brussels this week, if the passions OF war
have sufficiently subsidized to allow wisdom
and reasonable recognition Of the opinions
of late enemy-participatng countries to
guide its deliberations, may be the means
OF setting in motion influences that will
prove decidedly helpful in bringing order
out of chaos in world Of financial dis
order, from which no European country is
excepted.
Burdened, as all the participating nations
are. by public debts unparalleled in all their
history, they find this load increasingly aug
mented by the depreciation Of their inflated
volume Of currency as n result of the de-
moralization Of the markets for foreign cx-
change. To overcome this deplorable state
OF affairs is one OF the first problems 10
which the conference has addressed itself.
In the discussions which have already taken
place, the remarkable unanimity Of thought
expressed in the speeches raises the hope
in conference circles that in the committee
work, which will likely decide the success
or failure of the conference. il will be easy
for the delegates to agree upon line Of
action.
The United States is represented unoil-
cially in the conference by Roland W. Boy
den. In an address to the conference, Mr.
Boyden reminded Europe that she must
help herself before asking further help
from the United States. This pointed, but
friendly. warning did not particularly APP
peal to the delegates Of the European ma
lions, some OF whom Criticized it rs severe
upon the victorious allies, who are creditors
of Germany, urging that he went too far
In asking the v!ctors in the TO 20 more
than halfway in order 10 harnoniZe the
interests Of their former enemies
Still, the attitude Of the United States
as represented by Mr.. Boyden, is the cor
rect one to take. The United States has
gone to unprecedented lengths in financing
the allies needs during the war and in
administering to the relief OF distress
throughout all Europe since the close OF the
war, to say nothing OF its lcniency in press
Ing collection of Indebtedness due II by its
associates in the war. 1t now has TO face
the rehabilitation and reimbursement Of its
own demoralized industry Hence its un-
official representative at the conference but
states a palpable truth when he says that.
under present conditions Europe is not
considered by the United States a good bust
ness risk.
Indeed the discussions before the con
ference clearly imply recognition OF the
necessity for countries in financial distress
to get TO work, to live on their own ac-
tivities. to pay their own way, and to pro-
duce more and spend less. When Europe
shall have addressed all OF her energies 10
this supreme undertaking. it may no, be
doubted that there will speedily be disccrni-
BILE marked improvement in her condition
In the meantime, the United States can be
depended on 10 lend such friendly cncour-
agement TO this self-reliant effort as is with
4 in its power 10 give without neglecting its
own affairs.