New-York tribune., 1922-12-28
Grounds for Hope

toward a solution Of Europe's prob
lem. To enumcrate them is TO re-
view the striking shifts in public
opinion and in governments which
have taken place in the last year.
Each country concerned has wit
messed important changes. All tend
70 favor a final settlement Of the
war problems.
The earliest shift came in France.
A year ago II was impossible for a
French public man even TO discuss a
reduction in German reparations.
To-day there is general acceptance
Of the view that the so-called &c"
bonds provided for by the London
agreement are next 20 worthless and
that a sum between s10,OO0,00O,O 900
and $4,000 900 900 is the maximum
that it Is practicable TO collect. For
several months the Poincare govern
ment has been openly ready TO ac-
cept such a scaling down-prOvided
England would release the French
debt and forego her share Of the
reparations, thus yielding to France
enough re- jarationS to restore the
devastated regions. Here is a great
gain toward an understanding with
England and Germany.
The second gain has come in Eng
land, where the temperamental Lloyd
George 90 distrusted where he was
not hated in France--has been sue
ceeded by the steady-minded Bonar
Law. It is not too much TO say that
agreement between France and Eng
land was all but impossible so long
"a Lloyd George held Office. AS the
historians Of the Versailles Treaty
have made clear, it was Lloyd
George who was chiefly responsible
for the eztravagant reparations
then discussed. BY i'll chance Lloyd
George remained the evil genius Of
the reparation problem, alternating
French concord by his sudden shifts
and all but ending the entente by his
policies. France and England are
stIll divided upon important points,
but they are, by disposition as well
~ by actual concession, nearer
agreement than at any time in many
months.
The shift in Italy has also altered
the diplomatic map. As a result
HuSsolini appears 70 have aligned
hts government with France and
Belgium. Just what is the new
Italian view and how greatly It will
help toward a solution remain to
4 he developed. There is probably a
minor aid TO Allied unity in the Mus
solini policy.
II is here In America that the
greatest change has come about.
Partly II has been a gradual growth,
Partly II was ripened into definite
conviction by the outspoken words
Of Clemenceau. Underlying the
shift in opinion in the Middle West
where the bitterest opposition 70 CO.
operation with Europe has lain, has
been a broad economic fact-thc
hard times Of the farmer and the
gradual realization on his part that
Europe was no abstract problem but
a definite market, urgently needed
for his products. The shift in the
attitude Of the farm bloc Senator'S is
striking proof Of how closely the
modern nations are tied together.
Their willingness 10 aid in the set
uement Of Europe at last gives Mr..
Harding an excellent chance Of Sc
curing a two-thirds vote Of the Sen
ate for American participation.
There has kept pace with this
broad shift in the Middle West a
general debate Of the AlliedAebts 10
America. Mr. Otto Kahn has made
the latest suggestions for their set
uement, and. like every hnaneier who
has discussed the problem, has urged
that some leniency must be shown in
their collection. There have been
couRter efforts to arouse American
aninosity toward the Allies for their
practices during the war. The word
cancellation IS still hated in some
quarters. But there has been an I'M
euest ioned drift Of opinion toward
the view that, both for moral rea-
sons and for solid financial reasons,
some foregoing Of the letter Of the
Obligation is necessary.
Thus many arrows point in one
direction. What would have been
er.,v fore'c7s 2 year ago IS now a
q sa.s.gr.fA. Many ohstaeles
srs SIN left. Ths rsparati0n issue