Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-16
FRENCH TRIP DELAY
!. ELATES GERMANS
I
postponemeht of Laval and
. BRAND Visit to Berlin Seen
Debt Plan Aid.
NJ EDGAR ANsEL MowRER.

BY EDGAR ANSEL MOWRER.
~ cabis 10 The star
BERLIN, Germany, August l5.-To g
world weary of empty words and an
eniptier atmosphere" news that the
French statesmen, Premier Pierre Laval
and Foreign Minister Aristide BRAND
have decided to postpone their visit to
Berlin-which would be the first since
before the Ffanco-pTussian War-un-
til after the September assembly OF the
League Of Nations should be welcome.
For 1t means simply that no proper
basis for a Franco-G German understand
ing has been found. And until such
basis can be discovered or created, a
meeting of the statesmen must result
in nothing but more rhetoric and, re-
sulting in disappointment, would delay
rather than hasten the day when the
French and the Germans can really get
together-n there is to be such a day.
since the London Conference nothing
has really changed. The French VIII
not give Germany q longtime loan UNI
less the United States participates.
America apparently viii not participate
without Great Britain, and Great Brit
ain has not the money to lend.
France Demands Treaty Revision.
The French, furthermore. demand
that Germany at least temporarily re-
nounce its policy of treaty revision as
the price for loan. France could give
the Reichsbank new rediscount credit as
a kind Of Hindenburg line behind the
frst line trenches to be provided by
the still uncertain creditors selt-control
consortium. But the price Is again
political.
German Chancellor Heinrich Bruen-
ing neither can nor will accept political
conditions. Germany, therefore, must
s'help ITSELF and the idea therefore
evolved that Germany and France
should attempt to get together on
series OF purely economic measures,
leaving France and politics to some hap
pier future day.
But here again opinions proved to be
too far asunder Both the French and
Herr Bruening seem TO believe that res
toration Of Europe lies In the strength
ening of international price cartels and
the reduction Of international COMPETE
ton.
Bruenlng For Cooperation.
In an interview published in todays
London Mail Herr Breuning stated his
idea clearly. One might answer that
many economists believe that the cause
Of the worlds troubles Is not too much,
but too little economic competition. But
the Germans themselves favor monopo-
listic arrangements and Herr Bruening
is their spokesman. He also desires q
European conference with a sinking Of
international tariffs and prices, and
here he stands on sounoer economic
ground.
one might ask, why, II the French
and Germans both wish TO amplify and
agree on q number of measures which
are along the line of the French pro-
posals to the Pan-European COMMITTEES
last May, they cannot agree?
The answer is fairly simple-the
French demand an understanding with
Germany under our eyes" which only
then might be wideried TO include the
other countries
The Germans seem to be trying to
arrange three cripples alliance .
namely. combination Of Great Britain,
Italy and Germany, to bring pressure
upon France and thus form kind OF
loose group, which would adopt a SINH
lar price and tariff policy and eventu-
ally 20 so far as to discuss D. customs
union between some Of the members.
The drawback 70 this scheme is that
Germany, Great Britain and Italy all
are financially weak and France is
financially strong. Not weak, but the
strong have o habit of making terms
in this world. Therefore the distance |
between the French and the Germans |
The Germans bIIthely announce that
they do not really need financial help |
once they are sure that no further fUe |
eign credits win be withdrawn; that 8 !
IS for the world to help them, not for /
them to appeal TO the world for help |
UnsoundneSs remains therefore incor- |
porated In the present German business |
situation, and Il must be seen how It |
can be eliminated.
Germany JubiIant.
German conservative circles are jubi-
liant at the French decision to postpone
their Berlin visit and trumpet abroad
the failure Df the Braening plan for
meeting the French half way" On the
surface they are correct. For the time
being attempts at cooperation have
been unsuccessful, partly because the
French terms are too hard, partly be-
cause Herr BrIening is not free to 20
rs far as he would like to In meeting
the French and partly because the
British policy still opposes and fears
any real attempt Of the French and
Germans to meet anywhere except In
the shadow Of the British lion.
But the desire OF the French and
Germans TO get together Is growing and
1t seems. unless unpleasant surprises
emerge, that something must happen In
the fairly near future It remains to
be seen what Geneva viii bring
fCopyriEht. 1psi)