Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-05-13
PEACE IN EUROPE
HELlDcHURCH lob
Three-Month Social Survey
Overseas Made by DR..
Atkinson.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, May 13.-The most inn
portant task that can be undertaken
by the religious forces of the world,
according to DIR. Henry A. Atkinson. is
to help restore peace and harmony in
Europe. DR.. Atkinson has recently re-
turned fro ma three-month survey of
social conditions in central Europe, and
made a report to the trustees Of the
World Alliance for International
Friendship through the Churches. of
that the present moral and social I'M
rest and inter-racial jealousy threatens
another great war unless means are
found to bring the peoples Of Europe
into friendlier relations. The failure
to accomplish this by political means.
he says. presents great opportunity
to the churches.
DR.. Atkinson spent some time in
Germany, visiting important cities. in
terviewing scores of leaders of every
class. He found Germany. to all ap-
pearances. the most prosperous of all
the nations of continental Europe. but
was disappointed to find SO many of the
people apparently opposed to the pres
ent government. The names of Won
TirpitZ and Won Hindenburg arouse in
tense enthusiasm whenever they are
mentioned in any public gathering He
told particularly of an actor in Berlin
who unprecedented these two heroes
and of the tremendous enthusiasm of
the audience which filled the Winter
Garden.
France Fears Future.
France is fearful of the future. The
military spirit. which is in the as
cendancy. is fostered among the mass
Of the population because they feel
that the league of nations and the
international understandings at pres
emit operating are not strong enough
to protect them against the menace
OF Germany. The nation feels it must
depend on its own military strength.
The dread of an alliance between
Germany and Russia and of another
sudden invasion is always uppermost
in the minds of the French people.
We may condemn France for put
ting her confidence in force. but
said DIR. Atkinson, eff / were a
Frenchman and knew the situation /
am afraid that would take much the
same attitude that France does to-
day"
DR.. Atkinson urged the World AL
lance to use all the resources Of this
organization, with its branches IN
twenty-six countries of America, Eu-
rope and Asia, to help untangle a sit
uAllOn WHICH,, ne Is convinced threat
ems the peace and happiness ot the
world.
Churches Well Qualihed.
the churches. he says. can we'll un-
dertake this work, not only in re-
ligious matters, but in all branches
of social life, including labor, edu-
cation, charitable relief, agriculture
and economics. The churches opror-
tunity, he says. lies in the fact that
they are closer to the people than
the political or business leaders, and
that reforms must begin with the
hearts and minds Of the people them
selves.
International cooperation will be-
the main topic Of the annual meeting
Of the World Alliance in Cleveland,
beginning next Tuesday, and beft re
the international church cong -,ss at
Copenhagen, Denmark, from August 5
to IL. After speaking at TIE Cleve-
land meeting DR.. Atkinson will re-
turn to Europe to prepare for the
Copenhagen congress.