Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-02-26
EUROPEAN SITUATION

Things are shaping up for more trouble in Europe. Thomas
Edison says there is not likely to be another war because there
Isn't a nation that can finance it. Yet when there is everything to
gain and nothing to lose by fighting, the nation is likely to fight as
long as it has anything to fight with.
There are two very dangerous spots in Europe at the present
time. One centers around the Ruhr valley where France has in
Johy1 Germany, and the other is in Turkey. France, having adop-
sted the policy of occupying the Ruhr to enforce the reparation
payments due from Germany, must see the adventure through, cost
what it may. 1t has already cost her a great deal of prestige in
the world and it is going to cost her a great deal of money, if
not many more lives, before she has finished.
No one, except the most rabid proGermans, deny Frances
right under the treaty of Versailles to do exactly what she is doing.
But it is expediency, not right, that should govern under such
conditions. France cannot afford to isolate herself from Great
Britain and the United States. She might better relinquish her
claim to the German PREPARATIONS or, at least, greatly reduce her
demands, as just as they may be, rather than lose the friendship
Of the two great English-speaking nations. While the United
States has chosen to stand aloof from European affairs today,
moral support still counts for a great deal.
As a matter of fact, it is Americas aloofness in world affairs
today that is largely to blame for the present chaos. There is not
the slightest doubt that if Woodrow Wilson's idea Of a special
anglo-American compact had been agreed to, whereby England and
the United States would protect France until the League Of Ma.
tions could be solidly organized, there would never have been an
invasion Of the Ruhr and Germany would have been permitted
TO go ahead and earn the money whereby to pay the debt that
has been heaped upon her. For, after all, it is as much the fear
On the part otthe French that a prosperous Germany will again
Srerwhelm her as it is the desire for the reparation money that has
caused France TO take the step she has.
With her safety guaranteed by England and America, France
would have been willing to wait for a settlement and with the
League of Nations functioning as it would have functioned if the
Omitted States had gone into it the peace settlements would have
been carried in an orderly and systematic manner.
Likewise, IN Turkey, the refusal of the United States to play
her full part in the adjustments after the war led to rivalries and
iealousies on the part of the Allies which Turkey has capitalized to
She utmost. Americas refusal to accept the mandate for Armenia,
and give protection to the Christian races in Turkey has resulted
IN the awful suffering there and the forced removal of thousands
from their homes in that Ottoman territory. Had the United
States stayed to see through the task she so nobly started when
she entered the World War, the Turk would not be in CONSTANT
hople today.
These facts are being more and more clearly seen now when it
dent Wilson are beginning to see their mistake, but they were so
blinded with partisan feeling that the humiliation of Woodrow
Wilson regardless Of consequences was all that counted with them
at that time.
Today with the outlook dark and when it is becoming more
and more apparent that America must again come to the rescue
Of Europe, this time in financial and economic way, the mistaken
policy of those who opposed Woodrow Wilson is being realized.
1t is no more possible for the United States to remain isolated in
the world today than it is for any one state in the Union to isolate
itself as far as the United States government is concerned.
While it is too late for us to do anything now to remedy the
mistakes Of those blind partisans who defeated the policies of
Woodrow Wilson following the signing of the treaty of VersaH-
les, it is likewise too soon for us to step in and try to bring order out
of the present chaos. But the time will surely come when it will be
mp to America to act and it is to be hoped that when that time
ices arrive she will be ready and willing to do a real mans part,
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