Evening star., 1922-08-13
Special Dispatch 70 The star.

Special Dispatch 70 The Star.
NEW YORK, August 12.-Otto II.
Kahn, who arrived on the Maureta-
MIA after "A three -months visit to
Europe, today issued a statement set
ting forth his views as to the con-
ditions abroad and the policy that, in
his opinion, the United States should
pursue in foreign affairs to bring
about what he described as IAN un-
exampled era of prosperity. Mr..
Kahn's statement in part is as fol-
lows:
The European service of the lead
ing American papers is so admirably
complete that as far as the factS OF
the situation and political conditions
in the various countries OF Europe
are concerned. there is hardly any
thing returning traveller could say
with which d conscientious reader OF
the daily press is not acquainted.
Il had occasion during my stay In
Europe to visit Austria. Whatever
the degree of punishment and atone
ment justly due for the dreadful guilt
of their government in unchaininG the
war nothing more tragic can be
ina gined than the utter misery OF
that gifted and amiable people. which
has been one of the civilizlng forces
among the nations, and 10 which the
world owes 50 much in the field of
science, music and literature. 1t is
appalling 10 contemplate, especially,
the dreadful conditions among the
middle classes. their mistarvation
and. in some cases, actual starvation.
And vct there are still persons of
professedly liberal tendencies to be
found in America who prate about
the liberal spirit Of the peace
treaties and who unctuously give
thanks that the treaty makers of
Versailles. st. German. Sevres. etc,
departed so beneficently from the
ways of old diplomacy.
Where Wilson Failed.
The tragedy is that President Will
son had both the true vision of a
wise and just peace and the power to
enforce it. but failed deplorably in
realizing that vision.
However. ills little use to indulge
in lamentations over what has been
done, except in the hope of aiding to
bring about a recognition of the facts.
and from and through that recogni-
ton. remedial action, as far as still
possible.
such as Europe is today America
has been It strong factor to make her
through our participation in the war
and through President Wilson's part
in the peace negotiations. We cannot.
that responsibility. The European ma
tions-both our comrades in the war
and our former tnefnieS-have conf
dence in our disinterestednsss and
Well-meaningness. They have got
themselves into a snarl which. ham
pered by racial animosities, jealousies.
apprehensions, considerations of do
mestic policy and SO forth, they find
the utmost difficulty in disentangling.
They urgently need and ask our CO.
operation, less even in a material
sense than as helpful counselors and
guides. II seems to me both our duty
and our advantage to heed that call.
Still Opposed to League.
This does not mean giving up our
enviable position of freedom from
entanglements in Europe. | have
always been opposed. and am op-
posed now, to our joining the league
of nations in the form and meaning
in which 1t came to US from Yer
sailles The league ought to have
been matter of growth. of evoiu-
ton, of elastic adaptability, instead
of the rigid. cum mbersome. pedantic,
complex code ii is. 1t ought to have
been entirely separate and distinct
from the war settlement. instead of
being. a. it is. an instrument to guar
antee and execute ill-conceiyed peace
terms. Owing to the inherent faulti-
ness of its conception and the disin-
genuousness which taintS its very
J creation. it has proved itself impo-
\ tent to deal with the most pressing
and vital problems for which the
| world Graves a remedy, and to aid
even meaSurably. in bringing abou,
| that spirit and fact of peace and set
| tlement and fairness and reconcilia-
; ton among nations which il was
| ostensibly destined to promote. In