Evening star., 1926-10-07

Europe is in the midst of what a
traveller who has recently returned
from a sotourn there describes as a
pathetic struggle for peace" Just
how the adjective fits with the ag-
gressive defiance of Mussolini, each
observer may decide for himself. Or
what the renaissance of balances of
power" through political alliances
signifies, may be given various con-
structions But the pan-European
conference, which opened auspicious-
ly in Vienna last Monday. holds out
a new hope-pathetic or chimerical,
as the future will disclose-concern-
ing industrial prosperity of Europe.
1t Is proposed to organize pan
European republic" to comprise all
nations, but to have no connection
with the political independence of
the several nations.
To the Vienna conference came the
outstanding leaders of the govern
ments. hence the conference cannot
be dismissed as merely gathering
of dreamers. There was DIR. Joseph
Wirth. former chancellor of the Ger
man Reich: Paul Loebe, president of
the Reichstag; DR.. Rudolph Ramek,
chancellor of the Austrian republic; i;
DR.. Ignaz Seipel, former chancellor
of the Austrian republic. Letters Of
sympathetic greeting were read from
Joseph Caillaux, French minister of
finance; Herriot, minister of public
instruction. and Painleve, minister
of war. When the lions and the lambs
lie down together, dreams should be
pleasant.
Washingtonians will recall that a
year ago DR.. Loebe attended the
Interparliamentary Union Congress
held here, and that he aroused con-
siderable enthusiasm with a speech
outlining the hopes of certain ele-
ments in Europe that a pan
European union might be organized
which would parallel the Pan.Ameri-
can Union. The idea had originated
in the mind Of Count Richard Cou-
denhove-Kalerghi. an Austrian,
whose fundamental thought was to
European nations, wiping out ma
tional boundaries so far as they af-
fected economic freedom. In that
respect. there is no similarity be-
tween the European plan and that of
the Pan-American Union, which has
no jurisdiction over national tariffs.
The Pan-American Union has proved
it's very great usefulness through open
conferences between the diplomats of
all the member nations, especially
upon political questions. It arrives at
no conclusions binding upon the re-
spective governments, but 1t clears
away many a diplomatic misunder-
standing and encourages frankness
and good will. 1t is not primarily
economical in its functions, and that
10 nvoof1ry Va Gold int xx-hinb "a
pan European union proposes to en-
ter In short, the fundamental idea
Of Count Coudenhove- Kalerghi is free
trade between all European nations
a proposal radically different from
free trade between American nations.
including the high-waged United
States. Labor and industrial condi-
tions throughout all nations of Europe
are more nearly upon a level of low
wages and a comparatively low stand
ard of living. Withal. it is "a pa
thetic struggle" such as has no simili-
tude with conditions here. where
wages are unprecedentedly high and
where the livest question now is that
of five days work for six days pay.
The promoters of the pan-European
union point to the recent agreement.
at Brussels. in combine Of the steel
interests of France. Germany, Lux
embourg. Belgium and the Saare. The
demonstration that all steel manufac-
lures can come together in a mon
ster international combine is taken as
proof that all other European inter
ests Of production may similarly COM
bine, with mutual benefit.
X X X
The European steel combine is mo-
mentous, and does open a way for
similar combines between producers
of many countries of Europe. 1t may
also prove significant in the competi-
ton with the United States Steel Co.,
although President Gary expresses no
fears as to our meeting any competi-