New-York tribune., 1922-09-10
R
Europe's Chief
Issue, Says Cox
Former Presidential Candi-
date ON Return Says u. S.
Aid Is Needed to Bring Or
der Out of Present Chaos
Predicts German Collapse
Does Not Blame France for
Pressure; Will Re-enter
Politics This November

lhe League of Nations as a political
issue virtually was thrown into the
discard yesterday by James M. Cox,
former Governor of Ohio and Demo
cratic candidate for President in the
| last election, who arrived here from
Havre on the French liner Paris.
The big issue in Europe to-day-and
for that matter the big issue of The
entire world, according to Mr.. Cox--is
an immediate adjustment of war rep
arations. He expressed belief from
careful observation abroad with per-
sons of all classes that the United
States is a paramount factor in this
much needed settlement, and should as
sert itself or at least give expression
Of it's policy on the problem which is
a thorn in Europe's side.
Mr. Cox said he was fearful of Ger
nany's collapse, and that such tum-
Bile would be bad for everybody. AL
though France has been pressing Ber-
lin hard, Mr.. Cox does not blame Paris.
Just who is to blame for the condi-
tions imposed on Germany Mr. Cox
would not say. He did say, however,
that no responsibility rested upon
France. He said there wasAa feeling
there not particularly favorable to
England, and for that reason Paris
would not accept a decision on fepa-
rations from London.
THE reparation question is impor-
| must keep her factories buz2ing at top
| speed" he said, "and if some decision
is not reached soon she will collapse.
She now has 20,000O00 more people
| than she can feed If Germany col
| lapses, Austria will too, and what will
hspren then to the French franc is not
difficult to conjecture"
! The former Democratic candidate
was insistent the League of Nations is
not the outstanding political issue jim
Europe to-day. Thejpressng problem,
he said, is the settlement of the war
+! debt, and he expressed confidence
America easily could bring about an ad-
i iustment if she would.
america should participate in the
! reparation conference" he said. "The
verX announcement that America would
enter would, be virtual assumption of
| American leadership"
! 4 Mr.. Cox could not visualize another
war being waged by Germany, nor
could he see any need for alarm over
/ the Germanic alliance with Russia.
He felt there would be change of
| feeling here in favor of entering the
league. He said America is in posi-
| tion to add conscientious conditions
upon her entrance and that these would
be accepted cheerfully by the other
members
The probability of Senator Borah
making trip to Europe to study the
/ problem of the League of Nations was
presented to Mr.. Cox and he seemed to
think such move on the part of the
Senator would be a splendid thing.
~ wish he would go abroad" he said.
"Unquestionably he is one Of the few
American students who have made a
real study of the league and I am con-
fdent he would give it careful and CON
scientious study. He is an honest man
and | have no fears for his visit.
There was another Senator who
went abroad to study the league" he
said. "He went to London when Par
Ba!four on the floor; had his picture
taken with the British leader. A little
while later he hastened to Paris and
there announced the league would not
! do
Asked whom he referred to, Mr.. Cox
said he had Senator Mccormick in
mind.
The Governor contemplates taking an
active part in the fall campaign. Rela-
tive to the forthcoming Congressional
election, he said:
"The big issue is going to be the
failure of the Administration to partici-
pate in the affairs OF the world The
Administration will have to answer for
its sins of commission or omission.
While the paramount issue will be an in
Inr 10. i 4
tionai questions really cannot be
separsted -