Evening star., 1925-10-08
LOCARNO PARLEy
IS VITAL. To j. s.
Elimination of Mistrust in
Europe Would Help Money
Situation.

Although Secretary Kellogg did
not dispatch Hugh Gibson. American
Minister To Switzerland. To the Lo-
Carno "neace conference" or send any
other unofficial observer. the United
States has the widest interest in its
success. This Government was not
invited to the conference. and prob
ably would have declined to partici-
pate, on the ground that ii is deal
ing with purely F,uropean n affairs. But
that does not mean that we have no
concern In its outcome. America has,
In fact real concern in this first gen
uine effort since Versailles to wipe
out postwar animositieS in Europe
and get tho Old World back on
basis of common confidence and eco
nomIc stability.
Our interest is general rather than
specific, but direct and important II
IS threefold in character. The United
States longs for tranquility in Europe.
first, because assurance of peace
means reduction in expenditure on
armament secondly. because suhstan-
tial cuts IN armament budgets will en-
able France, Italy. Belgian. Ru-
mania. cZechoslovakia. Poland and
.lucoSlav via the more speedily and
comfortably to pay America the
money they owe her aud thirdly. he
cause haniShmcnt of European war
hoeeys Will hasten the possibility Of
q second disarmament conference.
President Coolidge has repea edly
Indicated that he Is ready to propose
another conference the moment F.u-
ropean conditions justify il. The ad
ministra tion recognizes that as long
rs the psychology Of fear" permeates
Europe from Siberia To tho North
Sea and from the Bay Of Biscay To
Archangel. no military power across
the Atlantic would seriously consider
limitation of armament. Today sew
eral Of them, as far rs land strength
IS concerned are armed to rhe teeth.
1t is question whether France or
Russia has the larger number of men
actually under arms. but they are
both military powers Of greater might
than they were in 1918. Even the
smaller nations, like Italy. Belgium.
ltIma mia, CzechoSlnvakia. Pola nd
and JucoSla via. maintain military eS-
tahliShments vastly bigger than the
skeleton Army sustained hy the
United States.
Would Pay Debts
These countries tax themselves
hurdenSomely To keep these armies
going. They do not 50 hccauSo they
worship "militarism. Tha World War
cured nearly everybody IL F.uronc Of
'miltarism. What imrels continental
Europe n spend its Substance on
armies is mutual fear hetweep nd Tia
cent countries and genuine belief
that Self-dafenSe calls for strong
armies. Locarno's underlying purpose
is to ohlterate these fears and de-
s:rov these beliefs II II can do ~. |
hundreds Of millions Of dollars Of F,u- |
ropean money will he available for !
other purposes.
one of the purposes to which the !
United States Government would GER |
tain!N expect these liberated funds to |
he devoted is the liquidation of debts !
to us. II France. for example. re
ceives guarantees ut Locarno that her
eastern frontier is not within the
measureahle future. in danger of at !
tack in a German war of revenge the
French might he able 10 slice their
$3.50 200 900 military budget in half. !
That would enable thnm To pay off
both their American and Eri:ish war
in big annual install !
ments. Smaller countries. released
from their fears would he correspond !
irgly flush" and he able to divert |
money either To liquidation of their |
American debts or for other non-mili !
taristic purposes. The United States |
for six years has taken the war psy- |
choloGy" Of Europe into consideration
IN contemplating certain countries !
to pay" Washington will |
consider that capacity vosy materially |
itsclf - think IL terms of |!