The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-02-05


Brace & Co.
"HE consensus Of opinion of all
close students of European
affairs IS that the nations OF
the Old World have entered upon a
period OF decadence and decay. OF
social corruption and Of economic
dissolution. Initiated by the war.
the retrosressive movement has
gained an impetus that shows no
signs Of possible halt: aud the by
products Of the hideous disease that
ravsges Europe are to be observed
even in America Although by no
means in the center OF disturbance,
we In TIE United States cannot bat
be affected by Il. and so. Tor our
own interests. as wen as Tor more
liberal humanitarian reasons. IL Is
necessary that we take part ia
European reconstruction
These are the conclusions ex-
pressed by Frank a. VaRdeTiiP. an
astute and farsishted observer of
European events. Prom months OF
first hand experienc in countries
devastated by the war and from
personal interviews with leading
statesmen and diplomats Mr. Van
derlip has gained the material for a
far more complete and understanding
view of international affairs than is
possible to most students. 1t is his
opinion that the economies OF Eu-
rope presents a problem second to
none that confronts the world to-
day; he states that this is mot a
subject to he left to technical finan-
cial experts" but that lit is some
thing that every person in the world
should attempt to understand in its
broad effects and its consequences to
humanity; and he emphasizes the
fact that the problem is not mar
rowly national but widely interna-
tional in its scope.
At TIE very outset the author
condemns that chauvinistic and
Short-sighted Americanism which
masquerades as patriotism in its de-
mands for isolation from the affairs
of Europe. I'VE like to cali our
selves hundred per cent. Americans"
comments Mr.. Vanderlip. land for
get that this may mean hundred per
cent. provinciaiism. The very thing
we blame Europeans for. an exas-
serated national ego, which is play
irg such a large part in their disor-
Sanizatfon. is q trait we ourselves
Lave highly developed. We regard it
as the purest form of patriotism to
raise the standard OF America first
We do not mean by that that Amer
lea should be first in leadership, in
heipfulness, in breadth OF under
standing, but rather that we should
be first i'm seltlshness. National self
isbness is the root of the deterio-
rating growth which is threatening
the civilization of Europe"
With these views in mind Mr..
Vanderlip makes a constant plea for
less selfish and more sympathetic
understanding of European prob
lens. I'VE cannot seldshly with
draw lie observes, land dsc;are
that Europes distress is not ours.
Ii is we'll for US to beware OF en-
tangling foreign alliances. but it is
not well for us to default in our duty
TO mankind and resign that leader
ship which is rightly ours" To lend
Europe material aid is not sufficient;
we must not thrust aims at her as
one would at a pauper. nut rather
we must study her difficulties as we
might those OF brother. and lend
her brotherly assistance and en-
couragement so as neither TO leave
her destitute and despairins nor to
lower her self-respect or power of
recuperation.
TO begin with, We must endeayor
TO analyze the causes for Europe's
misfortune. Mr.. Fanderlip places
these in three catagories: First. the
food situation, which is critical be-
cause production is less than con-
sumption; second, the condition of
the foreign trade balance, which is
such that the nations cannot pay for
imports by means OF exports, third