Evening star., 1921-07-17
Foreign Guarantee of Peace to
Precede U. S! Aid Suggested

the advice being given him or by
the alleged facts laid before him.
What I say Is that the Constitu-
ton requires him from time to
time to lay recommendations be.
fore Congress. and that unless he
seeks advice and obtains infornia-
tion he will not be able to frame
recommendation worth making. I
hope he will continue to hear men
who represent all sides Of public
questions. all phases Of thought.
Mr.. George M. Reynolds Of Chi
cago told the President many
things about domestic and foreign
commerce. II poor man like
myself had been consulted. the
very persons who criticised the
President for hearing Mr.. .Rey-
nolds would have been convulsed
with laughter and would truth
fully have said: His is only the
opinion Of a man who has never
had anything to do with finance"
Now that Mr.. Reynolds has
spoken, those who are not allied
with the financial affairs Of the
world may express opinions Of
what he said. Does it not seem
quite reasonable that II certain
portions Of Europe are impov-
erished and must purchase in
American markets the articles
necessary to make them going
concerns, ana that If we loan
them the money to buy these ar
ticles and they get the goods and
we get the bonds the only
thing we have done is to give
them our goods ana to trust that
in some mysterious way our obli-
cations will be paid? These OBJ
legations can be paid only in cash
or in barter. II these portions Of
Europe had the money now they
could buy tho goods without a
loan. Not having the money. they
must pay either with products
that they make or with money
obtained from the sale Of these
products.
The policy Of the government
seems to be to oppose the impor-
tation Of cheaply manufactured
goods. It follows. therefore. that
We are to loan money to enable
Impoverished parts OF Europe to
obtain the means OF making goods
to sell in other countries in COM
petition with our own manufac-
tured products. With the pres
ent policy Of the administration. it
10 worth while to give serious
consideration to the question
whether all future aid to Eu-
rope. governmental and other
wise, should not cease: whether
notice might not we'll be served
At once that two and a half years
from the armistice is time enough
for Europe to become impressed
with the fact that the war is over;
that the people Of Europe should
stiffen their backbones. disband
their armies and work out their
financial salvation through their
own efforts.
+ + + +
We are called on to feed the
helpless children Of portions OF
Europe. while the men thereof are
engaged in armed conflict. Against
our will, there creeps into the
minds Of US Americans. the sug-
gestion that II these peoples are
bound to continue the barbarities
Of war and will not submit their
questions to peaceable settlement
they may by heredity and example
be transmitting to their children
this same idea Of fighting when
ever they want to and for what
ever they conceive to be their
rights. 1t Is = horrible thought.
yet maybe II these people were
told that we will not help them
until they stop their fighting and
consent that their controversies
shall be settled by the judgment
of impartial men. they might be
led to see a new light.
I have doubts about the consti-
tutfonal powers of Congress to
give to European nations the in
debtedness they now owe US. Mr..
Bryan had great idea at San
Francisco. Briefly, It was that we
ofrer. to cancel our European in
debtedness just SO soon as our
debtor nations would consent to
the limitation and lessening of
armament. and that we withhold
all Aid from any people who
should continue to submit their
differences to the wager Of battle.
His idea obtained no hearing.
We can well give more than
ordinary consideration to the ad-
vice Of Mr.. Reynolds. Out OF 1t
there may grow a national desire
to obtain some guaranty, however
slight. for the peace Of the world
and some assurance Of disarma-
ment before we give more to the
European Oliver Twists.
(Convrirht nv Tho,as r Hfs,sh.u,