Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-03

and those raw stuffs of every descrip-
ton which man tears from the soil of
Africa, might play large part IN re-
storing German solvency. Once solvent,
1t was StreSemann's argument. Ger
many'S capacity to buy the finery of
France, the solid woolens of Britain and
the oils Of America would be so aug
mented as to repay these countries for
any reconsideration of Versailles.
In the Summer of 1926, while Ger
many'S place In the League of Nations
was still being disputed by Spain and
Brazil, StreSemann brought nearly to
an end one of the most significant deals
ever entered into by two sovereign
states. He almost bought back Eupen
and Malmedy from Belgium. It is true
that expanding nations in a new conti-
nent, like the United States in the COS
have already purchased lands from
other states, yet these lands have been
largely undeveloped and undisputed. To
obtain a highly industrialized territory
lying Strategically between two races,
each of which could claim a part in its
population, was deal which in the
old days would have called for arms in
stead of dollars Thus Napoleon or Bis
marck would have seen it.
Intervention by POincare.
SStreSemaDn Is n business man, anu
Belgium is the most businesslike little
state in Europe Together they were
reaching an accord when Poincare in
tervened Like Metternich he argued
that no state had the right to dispose
of land which had been given her by
a congress of powers. The matter
lapsed, but was not forgotten.
Today the deal of Eupen and NAL
medy would be altered in many of its
factors. Stresemann's policy in this
matter may yet succeed, and If 1t does
so its success would mean something
far more than a sordid industrial affair
between two countries which would
rather pay than fight.
If economists should beat the strate-
gists to a solution in Eupen and Nal
medy it would mean that new key
to the solution of frontier difficulties
has been forged A businesSlike ap-
praiSal, buSineSSlike bargaining and
buSineSslike sale would replace the
caSus belli Taxpayers would still BE-
taxed for the acquisition, yet even hun
dreds of square miles cost less than a
months warfare.
Would Continue to Serve.
The industries affected would con-
tinue to serve man instead OF being
turned against him, being converted
into the manufacture of guns or being
DESTROYED by them The inhabitants of
the sold cities would go normally to
work without having their wives replace
them at the machines while they them
selves depart for the trenches. Unro-
mantle as such a prospect may seem 1t
must be recognized as far superior to
the crudities of war, which, under mod
ern industrial civilization, has a ten
dency to lose its ancient glamour.
Should StreSemann, after having gone
to Locarno with BRAND and Chamber
lain. beQueath to Europe a business
mans formula for solving frontier prob
lens, his would be the greatest legacy
Of any European since Pasteur. Hav-
ing once won the Nobel prize, he should
be cited for it again. Stresemann was
a sober statesman-economis If only
race of statesmen economistS might be
developed, who like Young and Dawes
and Stamp and Schacht and Strese-
mann decide disputes by the dollar and
the pound sterling instead of by blood,
blockades and hatredS, Utopia might
dawn. Men might finally have time to
turn from their Searchings among the
debris of the late war to inquire after
and eradicate the latent causes OF the
next.
Much depends upon the German
leaders on whom Stresemann's mantle
falls. It is up to Muller, Curtius,
Schubert, Hoesch and their
to decide between hostility
and accord, between passions and an
detachment.