The Washington times., 1921-03-28

u. }. ID NIGt dUUNE,
LAYS GOLDEN EGGS
VIENNA, March 2s.-"what is the
Austrians' attitude toward US; how
do they feel about American This
question falls from the lips of every
American entering Vienna when he
meets members of the American mis-
sion and American Red Cross workers
A truthful answer Is seldom re-
ceived, for the Viennese finds soft
fiattery to be his second nature; just
as the Berliner tactlessly answers
with unnecessarily blunt rudeness. A
Berliner answered.: America Is a
nice goose which lays golden eggs:
the golden eggs are nice: but unfor-
tunately for us, she Is neither an
eagle nor an owl. but only a goose in
the international political world"
The Viennese will tell you how
much he appreciates the Red Cross
relief work. He will express the hope
America will cooperate with Eng
land and France in the promised in
ternational loan. For the last year.
Vienna. like the mythical Tantalus.
has had an interallied loan to fe.d
her starving babies. dangling just
out OF her reach. Not q week has
passed but what the Vienna papeva
have carried dispatches from London
or from Paris. stating that England
and France were attempting g ar
range an interallied loan; all that
was needed was Americas participa-
tion.
Enca,na go .-,z.a
exactly why it is impossible to have
an interallied loan without the par
ticipation of the United States. Amer
lea didn't wait for the moral or ma
terial support of any other nations
before she started her relief work for
the children Of Austria. 1t rather
looked. say the residents of Vienna,
as IL the allies were to furnish the
idea and America the money in the
interallied loan; the credit and thank
fulness for the humanitarian work to
be equally divided.
IF America would come out flat
ly and say she will contribute one
third to any loan England and
France wish to make, 1t would 8 op a
lot of articles in the Austrian papers
which ultimately have the effect Of
anti-American propaganda" said
United States consular officer in dis
cussing the subject with the Inter-
national News Service correspondent.
The Vienna Freie Presse is typical
of the attitude Of Austria toward the
United States. England has asked;
Washington to cancel her debt" says
het Freie Presse. England owes
the United States $4,250.OOO. 900. Be
fore the war England was the great
est creditor nation, but now the land
L. deeply in debt to the United
States. Although this powerful worli
empire is at the crest of its might,
and its ability to pay is unques-
tionable, it feels it necessary to take
this step to make its debts mora
tearable.
France owes America almost
So, 900, 100000: Italy more than ST.
roo. .000,O 900. and even Belgium more
than $500. 100000. These amounts
together. almost $4,000. 900, 900. are
firm fetters binding the entente 10
America and making them daily and
hourly dependent upon Americas
patience.
It's a peculiar contradiction thai
this financial dependence so far has
had so little political effect. 1t has
been again and again noticeable since
the end Of the war that the entente
powers have shown but little regard
and but little consideration for the
wishes and needs of the United States.
Although Washington has declared
the proposal unacceptable, England
feels it necessary to renew the at
tempt to secure a cancellation OF her
debt. France is following similar
plan in attempting to make some ar
rangements for the settlement Of her
interest due America. Nevertheless,
no one in London or Paris is asking
the political Intentions of tho princi.
pals and ideas of the United States;
on the contrary, an especially clumsy
example of the contradiction between
the allies financial and political a..
titude toward America Is the slight
respect shown the new President.
Although everyone in Paris and
London knew that a new Government
would take effect in America on
March no one in Paris considered it
necessary to wait for this Govern
ment and give 1t the opportunity to
cooperate in these most important
decisions. 1t almost looked like the
European entente wanted to divide
their profits and get them safely
locked up while America still had her
hands tied.
mo one can contend that America's
attitude toward European questions
is unknown. The American reprcsen-
tative at Brussels solemnly an
nounced that Europe could only be re.
stored when treated as a whole. The
American policy that industrial peace
must be restored most certainly is not
actuated by motives of friendship for
Germany. But for her own interests
America cannot permit a continue ion
of war policies to destroy Europe but
requires the restoration of orderly
oAnnArNA