New-York tribune., 1921-12-06
france, Italy. Even England,
Convinced America Will
Not Intervene to Avert
Economic Tragedy Abroad
publicDemandsAloofnes
Naval Cut and Agreement
on Far East Expected To
Re Conference Outcome
By Frank II. Sirnonds

aossible is summed up in the
rcncessions which can be peacefully
extracted from Japan in the Far East.
same day before long there will be
,ro,her open session and announce
nens will be made that the Anglo-Jap
.oese sliiance has disappeared and that
Is. naval ratio has been adjusted. The
enlistment will save the Mutsu. but il
iii ret materially change the proper
.;sus fixed By the Hughes proposal of
November 12.
In place OF the Anglo-Japanese alii-
.nce we shall have some sort of inter
national agreement which will not be
~ alliance and Will not carry with it
sommitments Of the entangling sort.
nwill be limited TO the pledge of each
nat;on to refrain from stack upon the
nsssessions of the other. and to OBJ
serve certain principles with respect to
China. Il will be a self f-deuyinr ordi-
eaucs. and as such wholly in accord
With the historic American policy in
q the Far East.
Europe's Problem Unsolved
There is one circumstance which
must hereafter be reckoned with, name
II. the growing menace of the Euro
man situation. We know now within
aret,y fairly well defined limits what
IS going TO be the extent of the har-
rest in the Washington conference.
Moreover, Europe recognizes quite
clearly that nothing is going to emerge
which Will have any real or important
bearing upon the present economic con-
dftions OF the Continent. Whatever
may or may net be settled in Ashland
much will in the nature of things re-
main nsettled-nothing will be at
rsmpted in Europe.
But the cable is daily demonstrating
.aat bad situation on the Continent
IS becoming desperate. An economic
crash accom- panied by very fax reach
ing political repcrcussions is begin
ning 20 seem unavoidable as the day
when Germany must again pav ap-
nsoachas, and British and French policy
Il more divided than ever before since
the war The fall of BRAND, the coming
81 Poincars, the adoption OF far more
anyielding French attitude toward both
Germany and Britain, this is freely
and generally forecast by Europeans
here in the American capital.
Indeed, the atmosphere of the last
few days has strongly suggested the
situation III Paris when, in the midst
Of the debates OF the peace conference,
here was suddenly heard the roar Of
revolution not only in Russia, but in
hungary, when the march OF Bolshev-
lsr across Europe seemed unacceptable.
The inability OF Paris to deal with the
Russian situation instantly deprived
Tat earlier gathering of much of its
ssmblance of reality. There was then
sprsfound feeling that those men who
ssre sitting within heated rooms, de-
bating academic questions while Europe
was being menaced and in part con-
samed by anarchy had lost touch with
the world.
In the same way to-day, while the
delegates discuss the problems of the
Pacific and the destiny Of the states of
he Far East. when they spend their
dags in arguing whether the Mutsu
shall survive or disappear, whether
Guam shall be fortified or open, there
Is growing in many minds graver and
srayer apprehension as to what is GO
ing to happen in the immediate future
IN Europe. The shadow of complete
| economic breakdown hangs heavily over
\ the heads OF all the representatives of
\ Britain and of Italy, while the French
re equally turning their attention to
the eycr-growing split between British
and French policies.
Collapse Abroad Forescen
4 is clear now that nothing will be
lone in Washington which will in the
| sllghtcst degree help to solve the prob
en- OF the German reparations or to
Eanlsdy the evcr-mounting discomforts
md dangers due to the exchange situa-
aon.. The Europeans have quite frank
y abandoned the hope of enlisting
american aid to prevent an economic
and financial collapse in Europe. But
asy have not and naturally cannot put
ssde the thought of such collapse,
Il sHen the existing European conditions.
There remains the hope that after
eaS conference is over there will be
aompt call for a new conference 20
aseusS financial questions. And not a
tS Europeans wish that it might meet
Washington, although the common
es 10 that such a conference Will
"a AaDabiy assemble not in Washington
IN Brussels. Yet even the hope of
= An conference, with the possible
.0mlse Of American attendance and
aNlcipation, rouses only limited sn-
Masiasrn, because the bottom fact in
aMnington for the Europeans is the
Aosnition that, SO far from finding
M sls any evidence that American un-
,Mngness to share in European proo~
.as e, mad diminished, they have almost
s.holt exception discovered that the
'ss0sltion has increased.
y we have these two currents OF
soasnt There is still the general rec
ssHson that the conference here will
ssseeu' so far as the objects for which
s1 called are concerned, that we may
y, naval holiday, the removal of the
ssss."'Sapanese alliance. some agree
~. .s' a. least in language, over the Chi
"a 4 s'laation, such settlement OF
tM ssr Eastern situation as will post
n, mt Meeanitely, if it does not abolish,
lii OF An American-Japanese war.
81; 4a' Europe recognizes that there Is
,,,. possible and even probable sue
mere on an American platform,
s,ss ~ as Americsn interests are con-
hi az the same time, Europe feels
sss,s se tondest hope each European
mss brought here, namely, that
ssroasa sr,san AID might be enlisted to stay
aa.S;s, aSsaa dlslntegration and prevent
es' easss aild even political disaster has
,As j. without basis. On its American
asls ~ conference still seems to then,
az. ~ = prove success. but from the
hi slanslc ,ssaaanslc point of view Europeans
esn;ss0ang which has contributed or
s 49,: 70 contribute TO halt or delay
As;s. A;a'vsi Of that crisis which they
Coming with terrible swiftness.
" Hope of American Aid