Evening star., 1921-10-30
BY THOMAS r.. MARSHALL.
Former Vice President of the

Former Vice President of the
United States.
OPE is universal in Ameri-
ca that good may come
from the Washington con-
ference on the limitation
of armament. We preach and we
pray that it may be so. Such little
influence as I possess is being
thrown to it. 1 have everywhere
urged my fellow citizens to as
sumo and maintain an attitude of
optimism. I have sought in this
way to preserve sympathetic at
mosphere.
1t will do no harm. however for
Americans to ponder certain ques-
tions which to my mind run to the
root of the subject. These ques-
tions have to do with the stand of
the United States in relation to
affairs of the world. Whether
rightfully or wrongly. we followed
the scriptural Injunction to Come
ye out from among them and be
We separate" Our position is one
of aloofness from the world of
which we are a part.
Prior to the war two-thirds of
the worlds business was done by
Europe and more than one-half of
the exports of the United States
went to European countries. Eu-
rope is now in state of collapse.
Her industries are practically idle.
There is some dispute as to the
cause of European depression.
Some are inclined to think that
blood hatred is exercising par
alyzing influence but be this as it
may, all agree that the deprecia-
ton of European currency, the
demoralNation of industries by
the war and the necessity of pur-
chasing machinery and material in
an appreciated market have much
to do with the blighted economic
situation. Academic discussion as
to, whether Germany can or can
not. will or will not, meet her rep
aration obligations is interesting,
DuL not nelpIul.
X X X X
One fact stands out, and that IS
that the French government is
maintaining under arms fully
three-quarters of a million men,
while the German government has
been compelled to cut its army to
100000 men. Animosities between
France and Germany are greater
since the war than they ever were
before the war. 1t is not worth
while to discuss fear psyche
logically what causes it or
whether it has any basis in fact.
Fear exists. The French people
believe, in light of their awful ex-
perience with Germany, that. as
nation of forty millions. they are
constantly in danger from an
ancient enemy of not fewer than
sixty millions. France therefore
is staggering under what she
deems to be the necessity of
maintaining her great protective
armament"
Quite naturally. the people of
France feel that unless the Ger
man empire be dissolved into its
constituent states, which would
then be kept busy watching each
other. or unless France receives
some assurance of protection from
the great powers Of the world.
another attempt will be made
sooner or later to overrun her ter
ritory. Eternal military vigilance
is the price of her liberty.
Germany, on the other hand, is
said to be fearful that. should
British and American troops be
withdrawn from the Rhine, France
will seek opportunity to declare
that the empire has not lived up
to its agreement and will advance
her armies upon German soil and
take reparation in kind for the
damages and injuries she suf-
fered at the hands of imperial
troops.
With Germany entertaining this
view, it is not at all strange that
she does not exert herself to the
utmost in an attempt to rehabili-
tate her industries. If she really
believes that there is danger of
French invasion it is quite natural
that she should desire that the
victor obtain as little spoil as
possible. 1t is therefore to be
hoped that. pending the long
drawn-out endeavors to reach a
state OF world peace. the United