Evening star., 1924-10-12
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

" HE machinery for the recon-
strUctiot Of Europe has been
builded by socialiStic and
labor governments of the
larger powers most concerned
and the wheels actually have begun
turning. grinding the grist of per
petual peace. The League of Nations
at Geneva in furtherance of the am
bitions, ideals. hopes and aspirations
Of the advanced thinking elements
OF the Old World has decided that
there shall be disarmament, Security
and perpetual peace that constructive
elements. not destructive forces, shall
prevail in Europe for all time. Dur
ing the past six months the govern
ments of England, France and Ger
many have lent every effort to the
movement for economic, financial and
social reconstruction and apparently
the cause gained such impetus that
it could not be checked except by the
most unexpected circumstance.
Grim Circumstance Again.
But grim circumstance which has
interviewed and made chaotic the
best laid plans of world statesmen
since the great war ended, again is
making itself felt. Where three
weeks ago there was certainty that
idealistic goals would be achieved
successfully there now prevails hope,
and though this hope be running
strong, high barriers must be sur
mounted, barriers lifted by the ebb
and flow of political tides. For the
governments which have been most
responsible in overriding contrary
currents in the general task OF at
tanning peaceful aspirations TO-DAY
are upon the brink of catastrophe
the English government, in fact, haV-
ing fallen during the past week be-
fore the onrush of political enemies
There remains Herriot of France
who clings to his position as premier
by the mere will of his enemies, while
Marx in Germany, who TO date mas
held back the hordes of nationalism
bent upon tearing up all treaties ana
working for the restoration Of the
monarchy, faces stormy period
from which he may not emerge.
The question naturally arises, can
the works of peace be promoted
should governments of these respec-
tive nations again fall into the hands
of political elements which from the
period of the war UP until the time
Macdonald of England and HeTlot
of France took control, merely mud
died the situation and made worse the
economic situation in Europe!
1t IS question that is wrought
fullfilment of plans already made for
united co-operat tive endeavor in re-
storing Europe TO its onetime sense
of progressive realism.
Macdonald of England, the motive
force of the reconciliation between
the French and English political
courses on the Continent, the man
who initiated the general movement
looking toward the drafting and
a1ayl of ran
arations settlements, and the man
who opened and promoted the League
movement toward disarmament and
sta bilization, the man who has
swayed other governments to his
way of thinking, but who has pro-
ceeded in the general task with wis
dom, tact and diplomacy, giving here
and taking there, probably Will no
longer be premier of England. Par
Lament having been dissolved and
a new election called. In this cleo
tion, which will be held October 90,
1t cannot be expected that labor will
be returned with a majority. even
though great have been its works in
stabilizing a forward-looking foreign
policy. The Liberals. no longer con-
tent to sustain the Laborites IN
power on seeing their party ranks
disintegrating in the provinces and
desiring to maintain Its entity, Dit
terly attacked the government,
charging that it had protected a Com
munist editor at the behest of Mos
COW, though in reality MacDonald's
efforts to fulfill recent treaty with
the Soviet government, in which he
promised the Moscow government a
great loan. really was the predomi-
mating motive. Lloyd George as
sailed the Russian treaty, though he
himself sought to make one on sim
liar grounds during his tenure of
the premiership. Asquith, former
premier, seeing possible disintegra-
ton of the Lii liberal party, likewise
backed the Lloyd George opposition
Consequently. with Labor having
failed to maintain it's support from
Lien ranks. Macdonald went 10 the