The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-10-16
ALL HOPEFOR
CAPITALISM IN
EUROPE FADES

,.v.tives at Geneva See Com
UIete Breakdown - Revolutions
Expected - Russia Doesn't
w.Dt Communist Germany on
usr Hands but May Get It
Nov YOrk.-FP- intelligent and
.E 49, non-worker Europeans
~. have no particular stake in
W. s' existing economic order tend to
u! I'm more and more whether the
uU St;rnance Of that order is either
0"ss;bIe or desirable. according to |
Po s N Baldwin, director of the |
ITeSsrican Civil Liberties Union.
Baldwin has Just returned from
tour of Europe which brought
IN, IN close contact with a num-
10, If outstanding nOn-labor in
tsIlectuals of various countries.
ARE LOOKING
FOR REVOLUTION
According to Baldwin, what
ever NAV be said of the role of
Geneva as the stronghold of cap
Malist power, any contact with the
.scretariat of the League of Ma
HonS or the International Labor
Office reveals a surprising discon-
tent with the whole capitalist sys-
tenn and its works.
This permanent international
civil services sees only to clear
" the theological bankruptcy of
the governments it serves, their
inability to control economic
forces, their enslavement to pow
ers that would defeat whatever
International arrangements they
might make.
81 would not for a moment
suggest that the secretariats OF
these organizations are prepared
for revolution; I would say rather
that they see no hope in the pres,
ent governments or economic sys
tenn. They would more gladly
serve labor governments than cap
itaHst, and they show warm spo
for Russia.
RUSSIA GETS
MOST PUBLICITY
Russia at Geneva gets bette
than an even break. The press of
flee of the League gives them NOR
space than others because tn
press demands more. When a Rus
sian speaks the hall or room
crowded. Part of the interest ]
drama, part curiosity, part an ur
spoken conviction that Russi
holds the KEY to the future. A
the International Labor Offic,
with its pro-socialist bias, and il
Russian section in the hands of al
h-bOlsreviks, there is uneasines
over this situation. They want |
be fair-but how to avoid part
Sanship?
Il asked a leading official of tt
International Labor office no
they expected to achieve even the
minimum object of keeping exis
ing labor standards i'm the face I
depression, lowering wages and d
Creasing social insurance rates. T
quite frankly admitted that no L
fuence save the power Of t
trade unions i neach country cou
hope to hold them. Paper agre
ments, though solemnly signed
governments, were, he confesse
worth nothing against econom
forces. Planning under capitals
% control depressions, now a pc
ular subject among the intellect
ais, he dismissed with a smile"
GERMANY IS A
PUZZLE
Germany is lettering on t
brink, says Baldwin. But on t
brink Of what? Each of the 80
40 Germans and Americans livi
IN Germany whom. Baldwin int
viewed had a different forecast
the immediate future. This div
Sty Of opinion is in itself an
dlcatiOn of the seething state
German social and political life,
Baldwin's view. No such div
Sty was encountered regarding g
other European country.
Most Of the people interview
believed that a government
hItler's National Socialists Of
csts) was not at present a pO
lcal possibility. The tendency
politics is to the left in spite
the admitted weakness of the
|. leadership and in spite Of
TACT that Russia does not W
communist Germany on its hal
Baldwin said.
Il the economic crisis of
Suhe Is repeated he expects an
I'VE and more or less spontane
movement from below, designed
overthrow the government. Tt
was much truth, he believes,
S e statement attributed to Ii
Seorge, that Gas long as there
~, potato left in Germany, IL
t sll be no revolution" but G.
anst Germany will not be abb,
save itself so ees;l,, ov,o4I,o,. =;