Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-18
CHANGE IN POLICIES
TOWARD RH|NELAND
IS HELD NECESSARY
BY EDWARD PRICE BELL
Especial Wire Service to The. Journsl.)
lCnnvriphf 1NC2 v.


tThe following exclusive interview with
Prime Minister Baldwin Of Great Britain
was obtained by Mr.. Bell on the eve of his
departure from London for the United
States. No other American correspondent
is as highly regarded by the officials Of the
British .overnMeut Mr.. Bell who has
spent twenty years in London as a special
eorrespondent.)
NEW YORK. Aug. 15.--"You want
to know what we are going 70 do
= about reparations, . remarked Prime
=. Ministers Baldwin. of Great Britain,
speaking to meSalone in the famous
room Of British premiers at 10
Downing street, London, and knit
ting his brows over the great Euro
pean riddle.
L do not know. We do not know
what to do. Our most acute and
experienced specialists confess them.
selves baffled. They win tell you
that, IN the history of statecraft,
they are familiar with no other com
plication so obstinate as this. Not
knowing what TO do, we yet know
we must do something, and we are
thinking and debating the whole
time what this something shall be-
OF this We are sure: We value I'M
speakably the friendship of our old
allies and associates and hope and
believe it will never be broken.
But We are terribly worried over
the Ruhr situation. We want it put
right. 1t seems to us appallingIy
dangerous. We differ with France
as to what should be done, but we
do not consider France disposed to
seek anything except what every
: one should desire-a settlement and
the prospect of permanent peaces
/, We do not, impugn the motives of
our great ally. We love her, ar
IDENTIFY as ever. and pray justice may
be done her. We should be afraid
to see Justice denied her. But we
! also should be afraid to see justice
denied ou own peoples, oppressed
as they are by grievous burdens.
Justice INDEED, as we feel, is the
supreme requisite all round, and,
hence, justice is our aim.
Way for Help Open
IF America can help, the way
stands open. It is not for me-aaot,
take it. for any European-to try
TO point out what America can or
ought to do. We have our hands
more than full to decide what we
can and ought to do
Il say only that Europe is tor
mented almost beyond endurance.
that conditions here seem to me to
threaten grave consequences every
where, and that, if America ,orS any
other member Of the sisterhood of
states has any ideas, any advice.
any ameliorative magic whatever, to
lay before the nations Immediately
stressed and imperilled, am sure
these nations will be grateful for the
contribution, and quick to give it
consideration.
What is happening before our
ayes is the gradual extinction of
the purchasing power of central
Europe; a calamity that must have
repercussions over all the terrific
ries bordering upon Central Europe
and through these. upon the whole
world.
Collapse of currencies and loss of
credit spell silent factofies and idle
millions. How can Central Europe
buy when, as is inevitable with
things going as they. are. she has
neither money nor the means of
getting The equivalent of money?
Britain must have trade If Bri
tain is to live. BY A vast preponder-
snce we depend upon exports. Our
foreign commerce lies under SEN
tence of death, Who can wonder
that we press earnestly for a settle
ment that shall stabilize internation-
al finances and restart the economic
processes of humanity -
Rise of New Nations
ITO be sure, we are not looking
solely to European markets. We are
scanning the whole horizan of po-
tential trade. Our own empire or
commonwealth of nations occupies
our close thought in this connection.
We have witnessed a rebirth sof a
multiplication of nationalism. Am
bilious new states are erecting tariffs
and striving for national selfcon-
taiument.
These movements still further re-
strict the commercial opportunities
of exporting people like ourselves.
British inter-empire industrial devel-
opment thus passes from a thing
naturally desirable to a thing com
pulsory.
I'VE are holding an imperial con-
ference this autumn. 1t will con-
Eider not only the strategic safety of
the British nations, but the indus
trial and commercial necessities of
their existence.
Some parts OF our common
wealth have too many people, other
parts too few. There is not enough
room in the motherIand and there
IL room to spare in the dominions.
Obviously, then, we have a popu1a-
ton problem-the problem of such
a distribution of our man power ard
woman power as will promote our
sta bility and security from every
point of view. This problem, like
the others that confront US, is diff
ficult, but it exists, and we must
face it. We have not enough houses
in the British Isles, and we have
serious unemployment. To force
building too much means
scarcity of skilled labor. high prices
and added burdens Of taxation.
Battle Not Ended
IF ] appear to speak despairingIy.
am by no means in despair.
Despair is the very last emotion we
should entertain now. In a true
sense, we are still in the war-stilI
battling with the catastrophe that
cost us, France and others the
flower OF our youth and mortgaged
our resources for years to come,
LAS we did not weaken in the long
period Of the military struggle, so
we shall not weaken now. Our pee-
pies are bearing their misfortunes