Evening star., 1921-04-24
EUROPEAN CRISIS
FINDS NEW ORDER
-,
Vastly improved Conditions
Will Cope With Threaten.
-. ing Clash May /.
by PAUL SCOTT MOwRER.

III fAl L. SUIT Mo" hr<n.
By Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News
Copyright. 1921.
fS PARIS. April 23.-The Gpproach OF
the fatal date. May /. and the certain
ty of another crisis between Germany
and the allies tends to obscure in
many peoples eyes the real facts
about present conditions il Europe.
The truth is that despite the gloomy
predictions of malcontents and pessi-
rpistic and opposing parties. immense
strides have been made within twelve
Months toward the liquidation of the
war and the re-establis!lme:it of gen
uine peace.
Only a year ago Poland and Russia
were on the verge of war. the allies
were fighting the Turks in Asia :
Minor. the peoples of central and east
ern Europe were a prey to munger
and disease and the demand exceed.
ed the supply in nearly all Ilnes o!
trouble spots all over Europe dlscon-
tent was rife and anything seemed
possible.
I Today This Is Changed.
r Today all this is changed. Russia
Is no longer subject to external ag-
EreSsion and is free to try to work out
her own salvation. The long quar-
rel between the Italians ana Juso-
slavs has been appeased by the treaty
of -Rapallo. StabiIizing alliances have
been concluded between Jugoslavia
Czechoslovakia and Rumania, between
Rumania and Poland and between
France and Belgium. The Russo,
German plot to crush Polano iaileo
definitely on the banks of the N1stula
last August and the danger OF a
militant alliance between Russia ana
Germany was, at least. momentarliy
averted.
Everywhere problems of internal
reconstruction are taking precedence
ever dreams Of immediate vengeance
and aggression. All the clauses OF
sbe Versailles and St German
treaties. except those deaiing WItn
separations, the punishment OF war
criminals and German olsaraIii .sa a1i
the prescribed plebiscites have been
held without great disorders and Eu-
ropes new boundaries are now an
accomplished fact.
Famine Is AveTted.
= The so-ca1led new states. the inn
Sninent dissolution of which was
widely predicted a year ago, are Hs-
Danger from famine and epidemics
seemingly has been averted. Ihe
death rate is falling and the birth
rate is rising. Even Austria is IN
far better condition than was oelereo
possible few months ago. The
league Of nations has been organized
and is at work successfully, espe-
ciaIly in the regions allotted to its
administration. Socially, both radl-
calism and reaction have tired 70
have been defeated. The Kapp rising
in Germany and the Hapsburg tenta-
tive in Hungary have failed as Sig
iiaiiy as have various communist out
breaks.
Social Conditions Improve.
Throughout Europe social conditions
are improving continually. Even the
present industrial crisis. shougn
is propably a blessing in disguise.
under its influence the supply has
once more begun to exceed the DE-
mand and the cost of living has begun
TO fall. Travel is becoming easier
is gradually improving. In the near
east France and Italy have reached a
peace agreement with the Turkish ma
tionafists. and as soon as the Greeks
the treaty of Sevres single handed
the situation there is almost certain
to hlmprove rapidly.
Sfn brief, as said before. the one
great immediate obstacle to the re-
turn of relatively peaceful relations
is the question of German repara-
tions. For this reason. il for no 9TH
er, the French are determined to set
tle it without more ado. and as mod
crate measures seem to have failed
they are almost unanimously disposed
to try force Of arms. Anything, 1t is
felt, is better than the persistence of
the present uncertainty. The time is
ripe for action. and the French are
confident tina. il their tentative proves
successful the whole world will
breathe a sigh Of relief.