Evening star., 1930-06-08
BY FRANK II. SIMONDS.

"HE rather chilly reception which
has followed the formal launch
ing of M Brands project OF
i United. States of Europe can
hardlyYha taken any student
of contemporary European conditions
by surprise. The simple truth Is that
Aft some sort of combination has become
economically necessary, all forms Of as
sociation remain politically Impossible
Moreover, at the very outset 1t Is
clear that three of the five great powers
are certain to stand outSide-Britain,
because it is at the moment turning its
attention again to the possibilities OF
imperial preference, which would be
the basis of a United States of the
British Empire; Russia, because its
rulers remain in state of war against
all the conceptions of the capitalistic
world, and finally Italy, because it is in
q state of super-nationalism.
Even Hungary Might Join.
Something considerable and useful
might still be achieved, however, were
Germany to return a favorable answer
to the proposal of the French foreign
minister. Politically and economically
the possibilities of some form of Euro
pean economic association based upon
O Franco-German combination are pat
ent. The allies of France-Poland,
Czechoslovakia, Jugoslavia and Ruma-
nia-together with Belgium, might easily
be drawn in, while Holland, Switzerland
and Austria would tend to gravitate in
the same direction. Even Hungary,
surrounded by states sharing in the
association, would probably end by
joining
But will Germany assent to any such
partnership with her ancient enemy?
To be sure, the major differences be-
tween France and Germany are rap
idly being abolished With the evacua-
ton of the Rhineland soon to be ac-
complished, no direct cause of difhculty
aside from the Sarre Basin remains.
And it is a matter of common agree
ment that the Sarre problem will be
settled amicably and shortly, the terri
tory being returned to Germany and
the French interests being iquidated
by financial payments.
Since. too, the Germans have clearly
and definitively abandoned any claim
to Alsace-Lorraine, there is no political
barrier to cooperation in a European
association. But the immediate trouble
is that both France and Germany
would seek to be supreme in such a
combination, France baSing her claims
upon her military strength, her alli-
ances and her present prosperity, which
would make her the chief source Of
capital.
Germany, on the other hand, has so
far reconstructed and reorganized her
industrial machinery as to be the most
important single economic factor on the
European continent. Her central posi-
ton, too, gives her a great advantage.
During the next decade or two Ger
many can with reasonable confidence
look forward to recovering the economic
and commercial position she occupied
in Central Europe before the World
War without any French partnership.
Such a French partnership too,
would impose certain political consider
ations. Germany would be bound to
accept her present territorial status, to
renounce all purpose TO suppress the
Polish Corridor, to include Austria
within her frontiers-in word, to re-
sumo her old dream of creating, even
economically, a Mitteleuropa extending
from the Baltic to the Adriatic.
Germans Probably Opposed.
One may well doubt if any such pro-
gram as that of M. BRAND viii find
tWide acceptance in Germany at the
present hour. The restoration Of Ger
many's economic and industrial condi-
tions has justly awakened German pride
and ambition. If the old dream of po-
litical hegemony based upon military
power has unmistakably lost ground,
there is still room and reason for an
aspiration for industrial supremacy
based upon German industrial organi-
Eation.
Ever since her military defeat and
domestic revolution Germany has been
under the shadow of the consequences
of these disasters. Her territory has
been occupied by foreign armies, her
finances have been subject to foreign
control, while domestic disorders, fol-
lowed by the imitation debacle, have
further crippled her. Only now she Is
at last emerging from the helpless state
of the past decade She is in all re-
spects on the point OF resuming her
position as great power, with complete
freedom of action.
Why, then, should Germany now tie
her hands by a partnership with
France, which would obviously be the
nucleus of any European union? Ano
what, after all, would United State;
of Europe really amount to with Russia
Italy and Britain left out? Incidenta,
arrangements with France, cartelS over
steel, potash and coal, certainly present
obvious advantages, peaceful adjust
ment with France is patiently desirable
but partnership in the larger sense
with a question as to which country
would control 81 per cent of the stock
seems less appealing.
For France, of course, the advantages
Eould be incalculable. At the basis o.