New-York tribune., 1922-03-08
Americas Voice
Vital at Genoa.
Says Rathenau
Attempt TO Solve Problem
OF European Reconstruct
ton Futile Without Our
Aid, He Tells KcicIlstag
Discounts False Hopes
Conference Unlikely to Give
Any Relief From Repara-
tions Burdens. He Warns

BERLIN, March (By The Asso-
ciatcd Pressl. - "rhe United State.
which decided tho war and shaped the
peace OF Versailles. alone can save the
Genoa conference from becoming fu-
t!lo attempt at solving the problems Of
european constructions"
lnls opinion was expressed to-day BY
Dr. Walter Rathonau, the Minister os
Foreign Affairs, before the Rcichstar's
budget committee. He was discussing
Teparations and Germany's foreign
problems. -
Dr.. Eathenau warned The Deput;os
against undue optimism in expecting
rre!ieI from the deliberations at Genoa.
ne tod them that the absence Of tho
Umted States from the conference
table would severely restrict the use
fuIness Of the gath ring. which at best
would be but another hating place on
the road TO world peace and economic
reconstruction.
The Foreign Minister'S reference 10
American relief in Europe occupied
conspicuous part Of mis- speech, which
constituted his first positive utterance
since taking over the foreign ministry,
dealing specifically with the problem Of
Americas relations to European
economics as viewed in official German
quarters
In tho course Of his reference to the
Genoa meeting Dr.. Eathcnau told the
budget committee that material relief
from reparations burdens hardly would
be Forthcoming in gathering of forty
Veflous nations, most OF which were
directly or indirectly interested in the
Versailles Treaty. He declared that the
Supreme Council and the Reparations
[ q mi inn Il
court Of last appeal on all rcparation
issues.
Referring TO the Genoa conference
the Foreign Minister said:
Genoa will furnish an opportunity
for diagn osing the general causes Of
the worlds ailments and for inducing
the nations to collaboratc in discover
ing ways and means to heal the mala-
dies from which tho entire European
continent is sutfcrng'
Discussing Americas Fart in Geo.
nomlc reconstruction, Dr. Rathenau
said:
"lt yin depend largely on The atsi-
milestone along the road leading to
world peace. Through its entry into
the war the United States decided the
outcome. In Versailles it determined
the peace, and now By throwing its
political and economic assets into the
balance it is in position to accom-
plish the salvaging Of the dsordered
world. thug decisively influencing the
direction OF political and economic
peace"
Dr.. Rathenau expressed the hope
that IN America the people would be
awake and strong in their determina-
ton that Europe shall not fall; that
the sources, the Oldest and strongest.
OF civilization, shall not be shattered i"
The people who decided the war and
made the peace said DR.. Rathenau,
carry responsibility for those nations
whose fate was settled. There is 8
Discrimination in America to mix in
the changing affairs OF Europe, but
there ere, on the other hand, powerful
material interests at work. 1t is wrong
to assume that American exports
amount only to from ! 30 r per cent of
! the American production; the propor-
tion is much higher"