The Washington times., 1922-10-22


| organization OF a business in finan'
cial difficulties. .'' 49,
Such an effort will succeed II the
right kind of men are selected, and
| TAIL II they are not. It Is plain busi.
ness problem. Genius Is always an
asset, but what In needed here is
plain common sense, some knowl.
edge of finance and a sane, con.
rstructive imagination-and, , more
than anything else men, who COM
mand confidence Of their own
people. ~
Facts Collected
The facts have nearly all been col.
lected by the various commissions
| abroad and have been stated-usu-
ally in an involved manner at a time
when the public mind was not ready
for them. They must be restated In
simple terms by business men, with
! the outline Of definite common
, sense program!
II this be done by men trusted
by their people, the governments
win be glad to throw the responsi.
bility on somebody aelse-and. where
can il rest better than on business
| men? After ALL, this is business
world, and in the end everyone
teacher, artist: farmer and work.
ngmen-prosper 90 business pros
pers.
II such meeting OF business
men is desirable, how can II be
brought about? II selected by
government officials. some may
suspect political taint. II chosen
by some self-selectedE body the air
may become too heated. They must
deal with government officials, and
therefore be acceptable to them.
They must command the. SUI pport
and respect Of the people, and
therefore must be free from politi.
cal suspicion. The essential thing
II 70 secure the right men from
job and then back mp their report.
Europe,s Need.
Such a program 10 what Europe
| needs. We are: willing to counsel
and help as others counsel and
help. We are not ready to add the
burdens Of Europe to our own and
go II alone. T..
Once a sane program is adopted
the people Of the world-here and
abroad-will help buy little more
gas II the carburetor is adjusted
to common sense speed.
IL, In the final discussion, the
debts Of Europe to America are
found to divide themselves into
Two classes: one, money spent Ia
buy supplies and make payments
legitimately for the use OF other
people, and the other for expendi.
lures of a class which may fairly
be counted a proper contribution
by this country to the war-the
people Of this country will accept
common sense decision
The people OF other countries will
20 wise not to press for a considera.
ion OF the debt question except upon
',e basis OF sound feason and only
a time when there are definite
ndications that the affairs OF Europe
IRE TO be at last approached upon a
asls OF business common sense.
Hopeful Signs.
In tile meantime there are hope.
Il signs. The English government
as announced its intention 20
Tomptly pay the interest due upon
- debt to us, and to agree to the
funding plan. authorized by Con-
;ress Negotiations with France
ave been started and there are evi-
lences on every hand that the world
ready to follow sane business lead.
,rship when II has spoken.
All this applies. of course, to Eu,
rome, and Great Britain, which Is able
, nd willing to pay her debt Of near
| !v five billions to this country. as
evidenced by the statement made to
the recent American Bankers Con.
vention by Reginald Mckenna, for
merly chancellor Of the British ex'
| chequer. ~.