Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-24

No feature of the German debt set
tlement-Such as it is-causes more
satisfaction in Washington than the
American eagles emergence from it
with all his tail feathers intact. Now
that it can be told, it wasn't always
dead sure that the old bird would sur
vive so successfully the closest shave
he's had since the World War. The
danger that the United States, by
hook or by crook. would be dragged
into genuine political entanglements at
some stage of the German business was
real one. It was escaped Uncle
Sam, as a Government, comes out of
it as heart whole and fancy free as
ever. He has no more international
commitments than he had before. He
has removed good deal of the isolation
rouge with which his rugged face has
been painted during the past IL years.
Uncle Shylock,' as European epithet,
has lost all the meaning it ever had
II any. American leadership in world
affairs Is re-established. But beyond
these developments. these United States
are as they were-uncompromise SOW
ereign and of good conscience, an in
dependent, self-respecting member of
the family of nations.
4
AAOoC WIN were al set, earlier IN
the week. for the political obseouies of
one Henry Lewis Stimson will have to
call on arrangements for the funeral.
There amt going to be none. Yarns
to the effect that the Secretary of
State Is persona non grata at the White
House because of the London mix-up
over the new Hoover plan" were blown
up last night by the President himself
His cablegram of congratulations to
Stimson for the liable manner" in which
the colonel comported himself effec-
tually diSposes of the suggestion that
the Hoover premier was headed for the
scrap heap. The President as q ms. l.
ter Of fact, is enthusiastic over Slim
sons diplomacy at London. What
pleases Hoover the most is the tenacity
end f1nal success with which the Sec
rotary OF State stood out against all at
tempts-mainly of French origin-to
turn the conference into political
affair. Stimson's orders were to oppose
such efforts tooth and nail and to con-
fine discussions at every stage to purely
economic and financial phases.
Over and above specific considera-
tons, the Hoover strategy throughout
the German crisis was to keep it out
OF the hands OF governments, as far
as possible, and in the hands of bank
ers. Necessarily the lead had to be
taken by governments, as it was taken
by him That having been done. the
Presidents determined policy was to
leave the major problem of banking
and credit conditions" where he be-
lieves 1t exclusively belongs, i.e., with
the gentlemen of money, here and in
Europe. Reports like Secretary Slim
sons alleged intention of Offering
further American aid" when he
reaches Berlin should be taken with q
large dose of salt. Unless Mr.. Hoover's
purposes undergo a sudden change, the
U. s. A. will, for the present at least,
rest on its laurels. Germany now has
the floor, and how!
There is notable omission in the
White House communique bulletining
and acclaiming final results at London.
The name OF certain eminent Euro
pean, known to fame as Aristide BRAND.
Is conspicuously missing from the presi-
dental bouquet. Premier Laval is the
only Frenchman who gets honorable
mention. The inside of all this Is that
BRAND, throughout the Hoover debt
campaign, was VIGOROUSLY sidetracked
by his own government. The architect
in chief of the United States of Eu-
rope" sat in at the various private con-
ferences among French, British, Ameri-
can and German statesmen. He was
at London. But his was still, small
voice. 1t never was allowed to rise
above the stentorian tone of Premier
Pierre Laval. The man who, six
months ago, was Europe's dominant
statesman, was doomed to play wholly
innocuous role in the most momentous
European situation since Versailles
BRAND never recovered his prestige aft
er his humiliating defeat for the French
presidency IN May, after being caught