The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-01-29
b. SIR PHILIP oIBBS,

By SIR PHILIP GIBBS,
In my opinion there 10 no doubs
At ali that the Genoa conferences
win decide one way or the other
whether Europe and other parts OF
the world affected by European
conditions are going TO get \ chanes
o. gradual recovery and renewed
vitality under q policy Of peace con-
ciifatisn and economic read3ustment.
OF whether they are going 10 De
condemned definitely to moral and
Industrial disease ending On the
death OF their old form OF civiiiza-
ton.
Once again IL will be a Leadership
or lack OF leadership in the United
States which will have the casting
vote IN the decision OF human fate.
II America abstains from using Its
immense and decisive influence on
the side Of an economical and po-
iitical truce. or IL IL uses its infu-
ence on the side OF those who desire
to uphold the present conditions Of
Europe as arranged by the treaty OF
Versailles and by the passionate in
tolerance of people who would rath-
sr see Europe wrecked than sbate
one 5ot Of impossible claims, then
! am afraid we may all resign our
selves to q deep-dug ruin.
Hope In Arns confere.es.
became an optimist again DUR
ing the progress Of the Washington
conference, because believed and
still believe. that IL gave to the
world for the hrst time since three
years ago definite guidance toward
the way of restoration and raised
the banner Of peace and interna-
uonal Justice. The spirit Of the
Washington conference revived the
hopes OF masses of men and women
in many countries and especially the
Engiish-spesking peoples after "a
long period Of disiiiusionment Dor
dering on despair because there
seemed to be no common sense, no
attempt TO tighten the burden of
military and naval armaments press
Ing on as heavily after war. ana no
realism In the handling of world sf-
fairs drifting rapidly TO wrsck and
ruin.
The success OF the washinEton
conference, limited in it's scope but
enormously important In its sbo-
ution Of naval competition, and in
It's general spirit OF good will
seemed In the hopes Of many of us
only the first step. towards a gen
erst movement forward, by which
we might get away from chaos and
the insanity Of international con-
hict.
Must Deal With EespsnIex
The next step undoubtedly must
be a great conference Of powers 10
deal with the economic disaster that
mas befaiien International trade, and
by common sense, and practical re-
adjustments TO revitalize the pur-
CHASING power OF old markets, 10
stabilize the money exchange, TO re-
store a more normal ebb and fow
Of world trade.
4 The Genoa conference follovIuS
the Cannes conference has the
chance Of doing that. II is an i'm
menseiy dificuit task and there Is
no magic wand by which the pres
ent ruin Of many countries may be
transformed into prosperity. Blu,
II Is not beyond the power of hu-
man Intelligence, Of ordinary busi-
ness ability. So TO reshape the
economic arrangements OF Europe
that In a gradual but effective way
the world markets may recover j
am convinced that-politics apart
-haf a dozen financial experts in
the United States. Great Britain
France and Germany would devise
a working plan with this result in
week Of toll and discussion.
shosfd IEnere Preja6Iees.
But IL Is utterly essential that
10 achieve this full result the Genoa
conference should be conducted as
a business assembly. dealing with
the worlds arithmetic as scientists
interested only in facts and no,
concerned with questions of politi-
cal prejudice. That Is impossible at
the outset owing to the inherited
antsgonisms of nations, and the
claims and counter-ciaims of jus.
tice, punishment, and prestige. Tho
next best thing therefore is that as
politics must be mixed up with
economics there should be an ar
bitrator powerful enough in in
nuence TO prevent the economic in
terests Of the conference from be.
ing swamped by political argp-
ments which would result in eco
pomic utilities. It is only the
United States who could insist on
such a balance.
Three vital Qpesfions.
There are three questions which
must be dealt with by the CONFER
ence In a scientific spirit IL Genoa
Is not going to be a farce preced-
Ing a worldwide tragedy. II looks
as If two Of those questions are
already being put outside the dis
cussion. The first is German re-
parations. the second Is the inter-
national debts. and the third is the
reconstruction OF Russia. II France
insists and is allowed to prevail in
her insistence that German repara-
lions shall not be discussed or mod :
flied and that the treaty OF ver-
sailles shall be accepted as a sacred
and unalterable law, then Genoa
will not get down to the root
cause of international distress In
trade conditions.
Again IL the international debts
remain as an unpaid and unpay-
able mortgage on the future OF hu-
man industry, there will be no re-
turn to President Harding's NOR
1 maicy." Thirdly, Russia with her
horror on the VoiEa, her Industrial
degeneration, and her standing Red
army must be given .economic aid
subject to drastic conditions in
GLIDING rehabilitation OF Red SOL
diers and Red propsgs nda, or there
will be no chance OF recovery OF
that great trade which formerly