Evening star., 1922-06-11

sumers, and they will be out Of the trade
equation by which Europe lives. Some OF
them already reduced that but Tor
charity they would perish. Others have been
set back hundred years or more in their
standards of living and are on their way to
the primitive conditions of the dark ages.
Bad conditions have gone far that cor
rection of these two blunders of the peace
will not now alone solve Europe's problems, but
they are fundamental and must be corrected
before other remedies be hopefully ap-
piled.
Taking reparations first, the difficulty is
that France and the other reparations claim
ants will not consent to a reduction of their
claims (and probably 1t would be unreason-
able to expect them toy without knowing what
return compensations they are to receive. For
example If France is to be called upon to
pay the s3.e50 100000 she owes the United
States and the s2.s65.ooo.o0o she owes
Great Britain, her statesmen would not dare
if they wished consent to a reduction of the
$4,000. 100000 Of French claims against
Germany. But If these debts owed by France
We're to be Cancelled reduced then there
might readily be radical change in the
French attitude toward reparations. On the
other hand. were America disposed to readjust
the French debt on the basis of Frances abil-
gaugng of that ability until It had been s.
tablished how much France was to collect
from Germany in the way of reparations
1t would to be futile. therefore, to
talk of reduction In the reparations totals
cancellation reduction of the interallied
debt without the convening Of interna-
tional conference in which these two Ques-
t-1,k
sidered whole. With a better understand
ing in America Of how necessary such read
justment is to the salvation of Europe and of
the enormous losses which this country is
suffering because of present conditions and
the still enormous losses which would
reult from conditions which are threatened
American opinion might consent to participa-
tton in such a conference were political Ques-
tions eliminated.
Europe would like to get America into such
conference tomorrow and 1t might well be
to Americas advantage-an advantage In dol
lars and cents-to go into 1t. were the way
clear. But the way is not clear. America
will not go into any conference in which tho
political problems of Europe to be taken
up for solution and there political Ques-
tions which must be solved before any such
financial and economic conference as sug-
gested above could be productive of good re-
suits. Before Europe can be placed In the way
of salvation through financial and economic
operations the political clauses of the treaty
of Versailles must be rewritten, and the Amer
lean people are in no temper at present to
take hand in such rewriting.
X y X
There are many political questions which
bear on the prosperity of Europe. such as tho
stabilzaton Of peace and the limitation of
armaments. but solution of OF these
Of do
necessary basis readjustments. 1t is a rea-
sonable expectation that their solution would
come naturally and logical consequence
of the basic solutions.
One of the chief of these basic problems
which must be solved arises from the crea-
ton of new states and the disme nberment of
old states in such way that their economies
were destroyed. This does not mean that the
liberties which were given these people need