Evening star., 1922-06-11
BY SHELDON S. CLINE.

HERE Is growing recognition In this
country that American assistance must
be extended to Europe in some form if
aScomplete breakdown of civilization
in the old world is to be averted; and there
Is entire Willingness to extend the needed aid.
The difficulty is to know how 1t can be extend
ed most helpfuly; or, in fact. how it can be
extended in way that will help at ALL
There has been widespread propaganda to
make 1t appear that 1t Is vitally necessary
to the United States it Is to Europe that
the European situation should be saved. That
Is not true. and Americans should not be mis-
led by it, With Europe 1t is literally matter
of life and death. 1t is not matter Of life and
death to the United States We would suffer
severely from European collapse. but we
would recover from 1T and adjust our eco
Monies to the new conditions. This country is
nearly self-sustaning that Americans could
conflne their buying and selling within national
boundaries and still he we'll feSl and clothed.
and reasonably happy Coffee. tea and rubber
are the chief commodities we lack. and it is
worth remembering that for none Of these do
look to Europe.
So at the very beginning dismiss
unsound the European hypothesis that the
interests of the two continents are inter
twined that chaos and anarchy in Europe
necessarily
and anarchy in the United States. 1t Is n
sound and untrue the contention that
the liberties of America certainly
menaced by the German armies were the
liberties of the European allies.
We went war primarily because
national rights had been disregarded and out
ragged by the Germans and secondarily be
Americans could not endure to sit idly
by and see the enlightened and liberty-loving
pf rch h>f
And it combination Of self-interest
and altruism which led to send two million
men to France. and to pour out wealth
without stint reckoning. like combina-
tton prompts us today to go to the rescue Of
Europe which Is in as deadly peril as It ever
from German armed force But II should
he clear in own minds. and should be made
clear to Europe. that 1t is not with matter
of sef-preservation. The sooner and clearer
this fact Is understood both side OF the At
lantic. the greater the possibility that sane and
hopeful conditions for the extending Of needed
help be arrived at.
AS starting point. when 1t comes to dis
cussing ways and means of helping. it must
he realized that Europe cannot be saved by
any minor operation or operations. Charity.
necessary it Is to relieve personal suffer
ings. will do permanent good. Loans, un-
less hedged about by remedial restrictions
will do good. Temporary indefinite sus-
pension of the payment Of money due from
Europe to America will not effect cure.
4 X X
Charity will not avail, because already there
has been extended more charity than was good
for Europe. 1t has brought about condition
where will-to- produce is not equal to desire
to-consume. and that condition is one of the
most serious of Europe's Ills
Loans Will not effect cure. for already
Europe is so heavily in debt that 1t is hopeless
to think she pay interest
her borrowings. The external debts of the
European countries which were belligerent in
the late war, not counting reparations.
estimated at $25,o0o. .oOo0 900, with annual
interest charge at per cent of $1.25o. 100000.
In addition to this staggering total there are