Evening star., 1922-12-24
Queries to Senator Borah.

who are urging the PRESIDENT ol the
United States to call an international
economic conference, owe it to their
own proposal, if to nothing else. to
enIighten the public as to what they
believe might be accomplished by such
a gathering Of benefit to Europe with
out injury to the United States. The
American people are ready and willing
to do anything they fairly can do to
help Europe out Of its difficulties. but
the results at Genoa and other eco
nomic conferences have not been such
as to inspire belief that another con-
ference at this time, even with the
United States sitting in, would be
productive Of benefits.
There is only one basis for believing
that a conference would be more help
full by reason of American participa-
ton, and that is that the debts owed
this country by Europe should be
placed on the agenda and their cancel
lation or reduction subjected to con-
ference negotiations. II these debts
are not to he taken into the confer
ence, it is difficult to see what could
be accomplished that could not as
we'll or better be accomplished by the
European nations comforting among
themselves. Senator Borah intimates
that he is not willing that the eleven
billion dollars Of Indebtedness owed
America should be taken into an In
ternational conference for adjustment.
And unless they have changed their
minds overnight, the American peo-
pie certainly would not be willing.
All the conference proposals which
have emanated from Europe, and
which have found this country cold.
have aimed at scaling down the debts
owed the United States in exchange
for a scaling down Of the reparations
claims against Germany. That there
should be such a scaling down OF
debts has been the only reason Europe
has desired America should sit in an
economic conference. For President
Harding to call an international con-
ference and in the call to bar discus.
sion of the debts would serve only to
increase the resentment which Eu'
rope already feels because this coun'
try has insisted upon taking an Amer
lean, rather than a European. view
OF the money we loaned to enable the
allies to prosecute the war.
For this government to summon
the nations to a conference and then
to have nothing substantial or prac
tical to propose would make US the
laughing stock Of the world. What is
it. then, that Senator Borah would
have the American delegates propose
To such a conference as he wants
,alled? Would he have them propose
merely that France surrender par1
If her reparations claims. without Of
iering France anything in return
French reaction to such proposal /:
not difficult to imagine. Would he pro
pose that England forgive the debt.
owed her by France, while still in
sisting that England pay what sh'
owes America? That would put {
pretty heavy strain upon Anglo-Amer
lean friendship. Would he propose al
American loan OF billion or billion.
OF dollars to enable Germany to pa.
reparations? That suggestion has beer
analyzed and rejected as impractica
by this country's best financial minds
But certainly, in urging that such :
conference be called. Senator Boral
mas some conception of a program
which would govern its proceedings
The people would like to know wha
that program is. They are reluctan
10 condemn off-hand any well inten
toned proposal for helping Europe
hut they are great deal more re
iuctant to take a leap in the dark
with the certain knowledge that il
whatever spot they land it is going t
be among unpleasant things.