Evening star., 1925-10-05
ECONOMIC UNITY
OF EUROPE URGED
Abolition of Customs Lines
Between Countries Is Pro-
posed at ParIey.

Economic chaos following in the
wake of the World War has made
1t 'imperative' for European eco.
nomic systems TO stop weakening
each other and begin considering
the advantages of economic solidarity
through the abolition of international
customs boundaries, DIR. Adolf Braun.
German Reichstas member, told the
1nterpa rlia mentary Union this morn
ing.
The problem of elimination Of eco
nomic frontiers Is regarded by many
world leaders here as second in i'm
portance only to that of disa armament,
and the conference gave 1t ,,lace
on it's program Immediately before
taking up the question of universal
disarmament. The entire session this
afternoon is to be devoted to dis.
cussion of disarmament.
Special Session Planned.
Brig. Gen. E. l.. Spears. a member
Of the British delegation. will open
the disarmament debate and officers
of the union are so confident it will
extend far beyond it's allotted time
that special session is to be held
tonight. The galleries at that time
fore admission has been by card only.
Admitting that the economic pre-
dominance of Europe can hardly be
maintained any longer, DR.. Braun
called for the creation of "a Europe
which, true to her historical impor-
tance of the past, will show the way
out of economic separation toward
the economic unity of the whole
world" and a Europe unfettered by
political definition of customs from
tiers.
Customs Understanding"
DR.. Braun spoke on a resolution
before the Interparliamentary Union
which would have this conference
recommend the creation OF Gus
toms understanding" between all of
the nations of Europe, aiming at a
diminution of import duties on goods
of primary necessity "and at the
abolition of other obstacles to the
freedom of trade
Under the resolution the confer
ence would also request the Inter-
parliamentary Unions committee for
economic and financial questions to
appoint a subcommittee, whose duty
it would be to draw up concrete pro-
posals for the establishment of such
an understanding with view to sub
Of the European powers.
Urges Solidarity.
"The far-reaching consequences of
the World War, which we are not
yet capable of grasping entirely" DR..
Braun in a report presented In the
name of the committee for economi-
cal and financial questions, seem to
have displaced the center of gravity
of the world, and make 1t imperative
for European economic systems to
stop weakening each other and begin
considering the advantages of econo-
mic solidarity"
Even should Europe attain an econ
omic union, however, DR.. Braun point
ed out, 1t will never reach economic
autonomy, for it will continue to
want. and to want to an increasing
extent, fodstuffs and raw material.
THE abolition OF custom frontiers
within Europe will not do away with
the necessity to import corn, petroleum,
cotton, wood, copper and tim he de-
clared.
Rather than cause decrease in
the importation of materials from the
United States, DR.. Braun said such a
European economic union would
serve to stimulate that trade. Every
DOQv kIlO"S, lie Sdll, lIldt COuHlI ioo
which are economically highly devel-
oped are the best customers. The
reconstruction of Europe is, there
fore, a matter of considerable busi-
ness interest to the non-European
world.
War Ruined Progress.
Had it not been for the World
War;" he continued, 'the develonDhent
of Europe might have continued un-
disturbed for another few decades: but
the World War has been an element
of destruction and harm far beyond Its
own duration. The example of Great
Britain, which does not succeed in
mastering her own social crises, shows
that we must reach quite new methods
of dealing with economic disturbances.
THE hope of securing an economic
predominance over the world by a pol
icy of colonization no more exists for
Europe. The cry Africa for the Afri
cans and Asia for the Asiatics' is
heard everywhere and sounds like a
death-knell for European predomi
nance. From whatever viewpoint we
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