Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-16
THE WORLD DILEMMA

pOST-WAR events have worn the word
crisis so threadtare that it is Of little
service in describing the posture Of cir
cumstances that is bankrupting Euro
pean craftsmanship and producing a con-
fusion of counsels in the United States.
The gravity Of the reparations and
allied debt emergency at the present mo-
ment is depressngly illustrated by the
fact that nearly all the remedies pro-
posed are Of q negative character. They
are not, therefore, remedies in the true
sense, but chiefly warnings against the
commission Of further blunders or folies.
British and American opinion is, for
instance, united in its opposition to a
French invasion Of the Ruhr. But Bonar
Law, who has expressed this view cam
didly and vigorously in Parliament, is
unable to recommend French renuncia-
ton Of a military policy as a solution Of
the indemnity enigma.
His contention that Great Britain will
find it impossible to make good its in
debtedness to the United States unless
payments are made on the inter-alled
European loans is cast in a similar mold.
There is a certain plausihilty in his rea-
soning, but scarcely a hint of construc-
tive design.
Within the last few days the French
seem also to have subscribed to the eau
ton of despair, which was in fact the
very feeling which permcated the confer
-, 7 Nd
its suspension.
Raymond Poincare. who is doubtless
fully aware Of the ominous significance
Of New Years Day in the history of
French premiers, has announced in Paris
that at no time during the curtailed ne
got;ations did he mention the question
of military occupation Of the Ruhr.
Without mpugning his sincerity, which
is indeed of mparatively transient con-
sequence, it may be noted that many
close observers in France are asserting
that the time for display of military
force against Germany has passed.
But how that nation is to be saved
from utter collapse, how it is to be made
indemnity-producing without financially
wrecking Europe, how the allied debt
problems are to be adjusted without i'm
poverishng a large part of civilization
are questions for which neither super
statesman nor super-economist has found
answers.
The chief concern Of Europe is to
avoid sinking deeper in the abyss, that
grim void which is, for all their errors
and astigmatc vision, not so much the
making of diplomatists as it is the con-
sequence Of the most destructive war
ever waged on this planet.
Colonel Harvey's return to Washing
ton is heralded as indicating that an
administration survey Of the European
situation is under way here. His immi-
nent arrival will coincide opportunely
with the visit of the British financial
mission, headed by Stanley Baldwin.
Official opinion in Washington is
known to be as determinedly averse as
ever to any large-scale cancellation of
the European debts. The problem is no
longer affected by sentimental considera-
tions, and consequently those economic
theories based upon this principle are
put to severe test.
1t has not been conclusively shown
that wiping the slate clean will save
Europe from ruin. The best that hard
headed advocates Of this policy can ad-
vance is that worse perils than those ex-
isting might perhaps be avoided Here
as abroad the paralyzlng political phi
losophy Of negation is in the ascendant
In an international outlook so cheer
less as the present the few straws of
hope to be clutched represent the in
tcnsely sober realization by all the gov
ernments of the profound seriousness of
the situation. Illusions to which lead
ers expressing the most varied shades
Of doctrine and belief may have cluns
are fast evaporating,
The security and welfare of all par
ticipants in the war, victors and van
ouished, and not in the long run except
ing the United States, are at stake.