New-York tribune., 1921-11-12
~
ldeaIis11l Rises
Again as World
| ENJOYS Gather
British Look to Washington
/: Conference as Dawn of
!. New Era in Darkness
\ Following the Great War
Hope for Debt Discussion
See Little Chance for Eco
nomic Recovery Until OBJ
legations Are Readjusted
BY Arthur S. Draper
From The Trfbune's Earopean Bxreau

81 Copyright 1921. New York Tribune Inc.
- LONDON, Nov. 11.--The British peo-
Hle are looking forward to the Wash
stngton conference with real hope
SHAT it will mark the dawn of new
stra in world relations. Disillusion-
Haent of recent years has robbed
Europeans of most of their idealism,
sbut the promise of peace held out by
sfhe conclave in the American capital
shas inspired all the peoples on this
side to expect great things.
IL Europeans are quite as anxious as
AAmericans are that the conference
sshall result in material reductions in
snaval and land armaments They are
-{eady to cooperate in s movement in
sthis direction and have sent their
sspokesmen to the meeting with full
understanding of the nature of de-
sSisions that may be reached. Conse-
ssuently there is a very earnest desire
sen England as we'll as in France, Italy
:And the other countries represented
80 see steps taken at the Washington
gathering that will promise better
Financial and economic conditions,
ssloser political relations and more
seound international industrial organi-
.zation.
40 Message Of Hope Expected
Il President Harding's keynote message
60 the conference is looked forward to
shere with tremendous interest. The
deeling prevails that it will sound
message of hope to nations that are
heavily burdened. Premier Lloyd George
..sof Great Britain has described the eco
/. nomic weakness of the present as the
greatest of modern times. In official
r quarters here it is believed that the
worst of the reconstruction crisis has
!. passed as far as Great Britain is con-
: s.cerned, but there will be many ups and
downs before conditions can return to
: sanything like normal. This country is
: easily the most stable in Europe, and if
: conditions here may fairly be described
las bad the situation in the rest of Eu-
-rope can readily be appreciated.
- Among other things that the British
. . particularly expect of the Washington
gathering is a remedy for some of the
. ssdefects of the Treaty of Versailles.
! british statesmen regard the meeting
: sas of as great Importance IN world his
sstory as was the peace conference itself,
because this Is in effect q reconstruc
.stion parley in which the greatest minds
will seek a solution of problems that
'sdeveloped out of the war.
Cne of the things that the British
sinsist upon, regardless of the opposi
sstion of America, is discussion of a
redistribution Of war debts.
.e Believe 1t Only Remedy
:. Although that subject is not on the
4agenda, there will be great disappoint-
-ment here if some disposition is not
,smade of the question, because Britons
regard it as one of the fundamentals.
sThey feel that a remedy. for the eco
ssnomic ills that beset all the nations
cannot be found until the war obliga-
.stions are readjusted-that is, until
= some Of them are wiped out by can
acellation. The average Briton cares q
siot more about whether the debts are
written off than he does about what be-
scomes of the Anglo-Japanese alliance
! Another thing that the British want
sis some sort of understanding to link
Sup English-speaking peoples. They
. desire to cooperate with Americans as
: lians. Failure of the Washington gath
i. ering to bring about a complete align
{ ment of British and American view
: points also would be highly disappoint-
I. ing to the people here. There are a
: few extremists in England, as in all
/. countries, who rant against capitalistic
governments and see no possibility of
!. the vast majority of the population
: expect positive results that will help
/: to stabilize the world.
: Look for Compromises
+ In the atmosphere of good will that
: prevails at present the British believe
: that differences can be discussed and
! compromises arranged. There must be
! drawing together of attitudes toward
i Far Eastern questions, as we'll as on
= the subject Of armaments. When even
i professional soldiers preach against
/. war, as some British generals are now
= doing, there can be no misunderstand-
! ing the attitude Of the people. Europe
Z knows better than anybody else that
i the hunger, pain and distress of war
Y do not cease with the signing of an
!. armistice.