The Washington herald., 1922-05-20
Declares u. S. Contribu-
ton Essential to Eu-
ropes Reconstruction.
PROBLEM HANGS
ON VAST LOANS
Believes Financial Need
Will Overcome Po-
litical Issues.
BY FRANK H. SIMONDs

No American can have any mis-
understanding as to the meaning
of the appeal of Europe that We 90
to The Hague conference, the ap-
peal which has just been rejected.
Europe believes. perhaps accurate
ly. that no real reconstruction in it's
stricken area Is possible unless we
take a hand. The whole problem
turns on vast loans and we are the
only people who can supply the
funds.
In addition the British are eager
at all times and under all circum-
stances to have US back in Europe.
because they believe that II we are
present in any international con-
ference our representatives will, in
the main. stand with theirs. The
French. on the contrary. are moved
TO invite us to come to a Russia n
conference because they know that
in Soviet questions we entertain
much the same views as do they.
All Seek 4. =. support.
All the maneuvers in Europe are
for American support. II the Brit
ish can get 1t, then they can domi-
nate Europe. impose their ideas
upon the French and at least start
that economic reconstruction they
hope for. The French in the pres
ent Russian case believe we should
stand with them and that thus they
would be able to win back LOST
ground in the United States and
temporarily separate Britain and
the United States.
But underneath the political Is
the financial. Russia may be per-
suaded to agree to certain things 10
she Is offered huge loan II the
United States Is at the conference
we may be persuaded to find the
money. Then there is Germany.
She cannot pay France unless she
gets aasintesaaitsaa1.-foAn. But Il
must again \ be tie United States
which finds the. funds. IL we agree,
then Germany han pay France for
few years and thus postpone any
French military operation in the
Ruhr.
All Of the smaller states would
ilht US bdSh III OtEdIsc
their position is made desperately
uncomfortable by the Anglo-French
row. Now they are condemned 10
take sides and in reality their own
interests do not bind them ccm-
pletely to either great power r
we were represented in an interna-
tional conference, IL we consented
permanently to share in European
deliberations. then the smaller
states believe that we might pro-
tect them aginst both British and
French policies and also restrain
the efforts of the two nations which
are today struggling for the con-
troll of the European continent.
should Cancel Debts.
II we were TO go to the Hague
"" should have t. take a part in
the struggle. We should be drawn
into the maeIstrom of Eur>,pcan RI
valries. In addition. we should have
to supply funds for every financial
operation and the mere fact that we
are preset will lead to the Discus
SION OF the question of war debts
and German rcparations. We should
then go prcpai ed to cancel tnS al
lied debts to us.
Whether We go or not. and the
decisio ii the administration set
ties the matter for the present. I
believe that ultimately we sHodld
cancel those debts and that no Eurn-
pean reconstruction will be possible
until such time as we make this
contribution. insisting at the same
time that German reparations D.,
similarly. reduced and ALI interallied
debts cancelled. But the question is
whether Congress and American
opinion are ready for such appar-
ent sacrifice or ready to plunge once
more into the thick of the Euro
pean battle.
fCopvrirbt lNx2