Evening star., 1922-05-21
Sees Blind Nationalism Lead
ing Nations to More Hor.
ror Unless We Act.
FRANCE A BOLSHEVlST
IN INDEMNITY EFFORTS
Reviewing Genoa, He Proposes
American Gold Basis for World,
But Insists on Caution.
BY FRANK A. VANDERBILT.


BY Cable to The Star.
GENOA, May 20.-The time has
come for review of what has
happened at Genoa. and, what is more
important still, to make a survey OF
the present position Of Europe and
attempt some forecast of the possible
methods of coping with the situation
as Genoa left it.
Blind nationalism is the curse
fallen on Europe. America can fur
nish moral leadership that will modi-
fy that nationalism. If we will fur
nish the right sort of moral leader
ship we can do much to turn nation
alism into rationalism. That is what
Europe needs. Helping to attain it
is Americas role.
Frances effort to get indemnity out
of Germany and the cost to get it out
at the expense of d wrecked Germany
is as foolish as bolshevism. 1t is boil
Shevism.
Coming to Real Grips.
The verdict upon the Genoa confer
ence will vary, according to ones
temperament. explanations and out
look. Whoever expected that out Of
Genoa would come a fundamental
step toward economic reconstruction
OF Europe will be disappointed.
1t would be wrong, however, to de-
clare Genoa has been altogether a
failure. AS a matter of fact it has
been a preliminary coming to real
grips with the problem of Europe and
in that sense shows results of great
Importance
Genoa was foredoomed to failure SO
far as fundamental actual accom-
plishment is concerned. The Cannes
basis for the Genoa agenda prohib-
tied discussion Of reparations, dis
armament or intergovernmental debts
Discussion of those subjects is an abb
solute prerequisite to the real adjust
ment of the present European prob
lens.
Premier Lloyd George knew that per-
fectly well, but the attitude OF France
was implacably opposed to a thorough
going discussion Of Europe's problems.
Premier BRAND fell because, under
Lloyd Georges charm, he agreed to
anything approaching a thoroughgoing
discussion.
Attitude of Obstruction.
Premier Poincare represented a more
reactionary attitude than NJ. BRAND.
NJ Poincare opposed the Genoa confe-
ence and placed France in an attitude
of obstruction to the true policy of eco
nomic reconstruction. He refused to
attend the Genoa conference, and thus
left, the French delegation was obliged
to rely on telegraphic instructions.
They received as many as sixty tele-
grams daily from Paris and at no time
have been free agents, such as must
compose true conference.
The conference convened at Genoa
without we'll thought-out program.
An attempt at such program was
made at the London conference Of ex-
perts, and the report of the London ex-
perts was the basis for Genoa.
Four Fields for Action.
That report occupied itself with four
fields: The re-establishment of political
relations between the European powers
and Russia, the working out of finan-
cial, economic and transportation pro-
visions, all looking toward the general
economic rehabilitation.
The London experts report laid
down a fantastically impossible pro-
gram of demands on Russia. Those de-
mands included liquidation of the past
Russian obligations, recognition of all
financial engagements heretofore enter
ed into by all the authorities of Russia,
local, provincial or on account of public
utility undertakings. 1t proposed to i'm
pose on Russia the liability Of all ac-
tual direct losses arising from breach
of contract or otherwise suffered by ma
tionals Of other powers due to negli-
rence of the soviet government or its
predecessors.
Best Brains Met Match.
1t proposed to set up mixed
arbitral tribunal to determine ques-
tions relating to debts. contracts and
losses, 1t proposed to establish a
Russian debt commission nominated
by the powers which would have
10 lSouO ieaSoidh ooHuS
to holders of the existing state and
other bonds, and allocate to the serv-
ice of this commission new specific
taxes and royalties.
1t proposed to control collection of
such revenues and deal with the
proceeds and arrange the return of
property formerly owned by nationals
of the powers
The London experts further pro-
posed to reorgnnize the Russian judi
cial system on a system of judicial
protection for foreigners as complete
as that established in China.
Thus the Russian question became
the center Of the Genoa conference.
The best brains OF Europe" devised
a scheme ito be imposed on Russia.
The "best brains of Europe" fully
ment logicians, but bad diplomats
Russian delegates.
Sincere In Her Madness.
Russia was mad, but proved sin
cere In her madness The powers
were disunited, insincers, uncertain.
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