Evening star., 1921-10-30
BY EDWARD MARSHALL.

pean picture as it appears
to W. D. Hines, accepted
by both the allies and the Germans.
because he is American and therefore
not prejudiced as final arbiter in the
disposition Of the many million dol
lars worth Of river craft left in
dispute after the war. who this week
returned to the United States. his vast
task ended.
His opportunities to study France.
Germany. Austria and some of the
small new countries during his
eighteen months of service were un-
paralleled. In an exclusive inter-
view for The Sunday Star he ex-
plaIned the appalling general danger
which now threatens Europe, and de-
clared that, at the conference upon
Limitation of ornaments in Wash
ington. America, having once saved
the world through fighting men.
again may save it; this time through
the work Of men who think.
That not one of his decisions
although they involved tremendous
values. has been questioned by any
of the nations interested Is. he says.
regarded abroad as an American. not
a personal achievement. due rather
to the American spirit of fair play and
keen anxiety for justice. rather than to
the arbitrator's individual! ability. Mr.
Hines is an extremely modest man.
May 30. 1920, and spent sixteen and
a half months at my post" said Mr.
Hines. The peace treaty provided
that these matters of the ALLEGATION
of shipping on the international
should be decided by an arbitrator
named by the United States. At the
conference of ambassadors in the
spring of 1920 the President was re-
quested to make this appointment
regard to the peace treaty. My long
effort was most interesting and
marked by no unpleasant incidents.
X *
Gas to the Rhine the general ques.
IA tion was as to how much OF
the German feet of river craft
should go to France; as to the Eide
the question was as to what German
vessels should be given to Czecho-
slovakia; as to the Danube the ques-
ton was as to what proportions OF
the German Austrian and Hunga-
rian fleets should be given to Czecho-
slovakia, Jugoslavia and Kumania, and
also as to the extent to which the cap
lures made by France. Jugoslavia and
Rumania Of German. Austrian. Hunga-
rian and Bulgarian vessels should be
regarded as valid.
My main office was in Paris. but
branch was needed In Vienna. l
Nad occasion to make trips OF in
pection on the Rhine and Elbe ana
Two Journeys OF month each
through the Danube countries. THESE
extensive journeys and my long stay
abroad gave me a most unusual op-
portunity for observation.
I'm greater o. less degree" con-
tinued Mr.. Hines. who was unwilling.
because of his official connections. to
speak specifically OF particular ma,
tions. "the observations which l nnd
1T possible to make will apply to the
general. situation in continental Eu-
rope My reaction after studying that
which 1t was my privilege to see was
that Of nany-the world. having de,
resources to the making of war and
too little to the making of peace. now
whirls very near to terrible disaster.
I think America alone can save 1t.
mo one could have covered the
great territory 1 have seen without
being utterly appalled, by the tre-
rnendous strides humanity has made
in the destructive arts. During the
war it's inventive genius. devoted to
the purposes or ruin. rose to heights
which WOULD, have been sublime IL
they had wrought construction, not
destruction.
''While the destruction was pri-
marily dfreeted at physical things. 1t
actually has appallingly affected the
less tangible and more precious. such
as. for instance. ideals. financial re-
lationships. bases of commerce and
,all those other things which. although
more or less invisible, none the less
are vital to the life. the happiness
and the comfort of humanity in all
parts of the world.
"During the war the United States
showed it's capacity for creating and
using destructive engines of war and
in that way performed the immense
public service of bringing the great
conflict to an end. Now it must en-
deavor to make a corTesponding con-
tribution to the establishment of
permanent and effective peace. With
everybody whom I know in Europe.
with all American officials and travel
lerS who know. as 1 do. the great
need. 1 am hoping that this contribu-
tion may be made at the arms con-
ference in Washington.
"THE world desperately needs. and
IL my experience in Europe has
taught me anything, gladly will ac-
cept American leadership contri-
button to world peace which only the
United States can make. In that part
Of Europe from which have returned
tile situation as it stands is infinitely
distressing. 1t is difficult to exag-
gerate the needs which must be sat-
isfied If conditions are to be created
which will insure real dissemina-
"a great deal Of the physical debris
Of the great conflict has been cleared
away, many homes, bridges and rail-
ways have been rebuilt. barbed-wire
,entanglements have been changed into
fertile fields. fenced and fit for culti-
walton; much livestock has been found
to replace that which was killed:
slowly and painfully Europe has been
putting together those physical things
which the war tore apart.
There has been some, but far less
re-establishment of the intangible.
Business has found ways of re-estab-
1ishing to a considerable degree COM
meroial intercourse between the ma
tions. despite the destruction of their
financial and transportation facilities
and the new political barriers which
have been created through customs
duties and other restrictions at TIE
frontier. growing partly out Of the
need for funds, partly out of the sup
posed need for conserving the home
supply Of food and raw materials and
partly out of intensified animosities
which the war has left behind.
But neither the physical recon-
struction nor the partial resumption
Of business can restore the world to
a reasonable condition of well-being.
1t needs something more some
thing which. l think. America alone
rightly can supply.
"The financial conditions of the vari-
,ous European countries which I Wis