Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VIE.

Now that the International Chamber
captains and kings have departed and
the tumult and the shouting died, the
curtain can be lifted ON the battle
waged and won by the American Sec
ton to keep the chamber from running
wild on debts and repaTations. Inside
history of the struggle will give chief
credit to the genersliSsimo Of the
American forces. Silas H. Strawn Of
Chicago, new president OF the Chamber
of Commerce Of the United States. The
public discussions on debts. reparatiOns
tariffs, silver snd other controversial is
sues we're Smoke-screens. The real
lighting was in the secret sessions OF
the council which was to formulate res,
olutions. There the Americans. led by
Strswn, had ii out for q week in
more or less friendly fashion with the
spokesman Of France, Germany, Great
Britain and italy. The Europeans
marched on Washington in q practi-
cally united front on the broad Ques-
ton Of revising both war debts and
German reparstions. They differed
about details AS to the necessity of
revision lie, reduction or csncellstion)
OF international obliea tons" Franco
Germa n British Italian sentiment was
solid.
President Hoover and Secretary Mel
lon having sounded keynotes TO the
efTect--implied. if not eXpresSed-that
the United States opposes revision, 1t
was up to- our people to see that the
American viewpoint was indicated.
Otherwise the Hoover administration
would be publicly Illuminated and re-
butfed in its own house, as 1t were,
Silas Strawn is no mean negotiator He
has been practicing corporation law In
Chicago for 20 years. He learned the
willy ways of Oriental diplomacy in
China. just what magical powers he
invoked to induce the European breth-
rem to recede from their demands for
he'll bent-for- Leather declaration on
debts and reparstions has not yet been
disclosed But the evidence Of his tri-
umph is the magnincently non-commit-
tai resolution finally adopted. AS
drawn and passed the resolution was
StraWns handiWork. It saves face
SlTawn found out what that means
when he Vas IN Peking-fO both
Europe and Hoover. Europe gets an ex-
preston of opinion that q study Of re-
vision would not be Inconsistent, IL
warranted by changed economic con-
ditions." The Presidents objections TO
outright revision are sustained, along
with the stubborn American conten-
ton. once sptly phrased by Calvin
Coolidge, that debts are made TO be
paid not Cancelled" II was Strawns
strategy that kept all mention Of war
| debts and reparations out Of the reSo-
luton and got them described rs i'm
ternational Obllga lions"
y
Washington has been walloWing In q
welter of speeChma king due to national
end International conferences. Now
and then witticism frightened dis
cuSsion for the most palt drab and
heavy. Sir Arthur Balfour, Bt.,
BIitain's Charles NJ. SchWsb, was asked
to address a private gathering on the
understanding that he would not be
quoted, but merely supply background"
Quoth the burly Scot, a physical coun-
terfeit OF TEDDY" Roosevelt and Conan
Doyle: Your plan reminds me Of the
| girl in a catechism class who COM
planned that the Ten Comma ndments
don't tell you anything: they just put
| ideas into your he6d.'" DR.. Ada l.. Com
stock. president OF Radcliffe College, re-
minding the American Law Institute
that she was the only woman member
Of the eleven that constituted the
| Wickersham Commission, told about q
mother Of a Harvard foot ball player
who, when asked what position her son
had on the team, said I think he's the
| drawback. Often thought was
the Wickersham Commissions draw
back" Former Vice Gov. Gilmore Of
the Philippine Islands, razzing the Law
Institute for assigning him only Is
minutes TO slucidate the Filipino judicial
system. compared himself to the Iowa
farmer who sold o COW. when prodded
to tell how much milk the COW gave, .
said Dean Gilmore, 1.-The farmer re-
piled: Well, she's q good natured COW,
and she'll give all she can"
8 AkN
One of the important vacant chairs
at the International Chamber OF Com