Evening star., 1923-08-14
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Assuming that there had been no
political controversy in the United
States over the league of nations or
the world court and America were
approaching the European problem
without any previous connection with
it, there would still be room for the
widest possible difference of opinion
as to what American foreign policy
should be in the present grave crisis
in Europe.
Any one who has tried 10 form a
judgment of what America should do
will not have his mind cleared by
visit to Europe. The chances are he
Will fnd il even more confused. 1t
- good deal like trying to analyZe
poker game without being able to
look at the cards of any of the play
.rs. Most of the moves on the sur
face hardly reflect what is actually
going on. America is as distinct
part Of the game as if she were a
European country.
War Debt Big Problem.
There seems to be no way of dis
sociating the United States from the
matter for the very substantial rea-
son that ten billions of dollars OF
American money is involved Grant
ing that the United States will never
consider cancellation of the war debt,
the problem becomes even more acute.
for Europe feels the burden of that
debt almost as much as any factor In
The entire economic situation.
In this connection it may be sur
briSing to many people on this side OF
he Atlantic but the writer can say.
without qualification, that about the
most unpopular thing Il British gov
srNment ever did was to agree TO pay
the American war debt, and about the
most unfavorable opinion that could
POSSIBLY be held of the American gov
.rnment is held by the average man
Il the street, because he believes the
United states insisted on its pound Of
tieSh at Il time when the British are
staggering and stumbling.
Hits British Purse Hard.
lust imagine nearly one half of Your
weekly salary being taken from YOU
hy the government, and then have the
|SoSernment say its necessary because
aTiother country wants repayment of
a war loan. Imagine, also, how anX-
inuS the average Britisher is to pay
anything. when cut of the war has
come French militarism and such q
terrible blow at British commerce
that l.20O, 900 men are out of work and
must accept the charity OF a govern
ment. which, in fear Of revolution. is
compelled 10 support its poverty
stricken people.
When history comes 10 be written
doubts as to the valu" Of the British
debt settlement SO far rs improving
the rela tionS between the American
and British peoples Americans are
paying the lowest per capita tax of
all the nations engaged in the war, and
at the same time America is the
wealthiest of them all.
Under such circumstances the resent
nlent among the common people is
| |irdescribable, though, to be sure. in
i've government circles the Importance
OF a nation paying its debts is fully
realized. Indeed, the British govern
,nent is endeavoring just now to use
the fact of Americas inSiStenCe on
payment as a lower to compel France
to scale down the amount of German
reparations to a figure that will yield
revenue at once instead of continental
chaos.
| Possible L. =. Depression.
The danger In all Europe today is
revolution and counterrevoiution
war between classes. If the American
government could he sure of what is
going TO happen it would act as a
mediator in the European disputes.
Former President Roosevelt believed
TIE United States should have pro-
tested against the violation of Bel
GUMS neutrality at once in 1914, and
that America might have brought the
war TO an earlier end by interven-
tion when the Lusitania was sunk.
All this is hindsight When the catas-
trophe comes in Europe there will be
another series of controversies as u
the part the United states should
have played in averting disaster.
Should d business depression follow
In the United States. criticism would
become even more intense.
Under these circumstances then
what should President Coolidge do:
The need of the hour is clear-cu'
statesman of American opinion. There