Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-05

sons totally beyond his responsibility
and. outside his control.
h., But MI. Hoover, after all, was the
result OF an election, not Of q revolu-
ton, and the question involved can be
settled in an orderly manner o little
more than year hence. BY contrast,
the Fascist dictatorship originally pro-
ceeded from a revolution. If today 1t
has dispersed the opposition 1t has not
destroyed it, and inevitably the eco
nomic depression has involved a crisis
of regime in Italy as in Germany, far
less Immediately acute, perhaps, but
none the less real.
/. Like Germany, Italy must get money
abroad. Like German. Italian policy
has come in sharp collision with
French, and the result Is that the sin
gle available lending power in Europe
is not accessible to either except on
political terms which would be dis
astrous alike for foreign and domestic
prestige. Above all, Italy and Germany
are the conspicuous examples Of the
fundamental fact in Europe that eco
nomic and financial difficulties have
imposed political consequences.
Over against the more considerable
states one must set the smaller, and
especially the agrarian states of Central
Europe, particularly Hungary, Rumania,
Jugosiavia and Poland. All have been,
hard hit by the overproduction Of
wheat and grains generally, and meas
u:ably by Soviet dumping" All are
suffering as a consequence OF their
inability to sell abroad and are neither
buying abroad nor making many pur-
chases at home. But all are primarily
peasant countries, and overproduction,
while it brings poverty, does not Involve
famine. Thus, three of the countries,
Hungary, Jugoslavia and Poland. seem
likely to weather the storm with no
grave political consequences.
Rumanian Trouble Forecast.
It is quite different in Rumania,
where the economic crisis falls in with
q political and indeed a social pros
tration. If there is one point in Europe
today where a BolsheviSt upheaval is
conceivable 1t is Rumania, and all over
the continent I heard speculations as
to whether the Soviet army might not
cross the Dneister before snow flies.
The present Jorga government is
plainly not alone the last card of par
liamentary government, but also the
probable prelude to a dictatorship.
Carol in Rumania seems to be plan
ming to follow the example Of Alexander
in Jugoslavia.
Looking to the West, the revolution
In Spain and the disturbance in Por-
tugaf have; certainly added fresh OBJ
stacles to the restoration OF normalcy
in Europe, and while it is far too early
to forecast the eventual outcome, It is
clear that nothing has been contributed
to the recovery of trade and commerce
in Europe. AS to Belgium, Holland,
Switzerland and the Scandinavian
countries, and to Czechoslovakia as
we'll, while they are patiently feeling
the strain, there is nothing in their
condition to suggest any important
events.
In the case Of Russia, 1t is plain that
TIE economic policy of the Soviet-their
recent dumping operations and their
general program-have combined to
create general apprehension, although
1t is certain that the actual effects Of
mated. To q certain extent sales OF
lumber. and grain have disturbed the
European markets and alarmed the
agrarian states. but Europe generally is
more disturbed as to the future than
injured by the recent past. It is rather
the progressive political and economic
diSintegration in Central Europe than
the dumping policy of Russia which
excites alarm. Nevertheless appre-
hension of Soviet economic purposes
remains one Of the major disturbing
factors in Europe.
When one turns to France, it is to
be struck at once by the fundamental
difference between the French situa-
ton and that of all other European
states. 1t is true that France has
tardily begun to feel the universal de-
preston. But the crisis has come late
and relatively slightly. There are fewer
people unemployed in France than In
the last crisis. several years ago. Only
so 600 are receiving dole in France,
against 2,500,00 in Britain and 4,5O0.-
patriate more than l 500, 900 alien labor
ers before she feels the strain. More !
over, while Germany and Britain have
suffered almost. continuously since the
outbreak of the World War, France has
recently known a wave Of prosperity OF
huge proportions.
Nation in Key Position.
France, then, Is feeling the economic
depression only relatively slightly.
While last Winter one talked about |
revolution In Berlin and economic dis
aster in London, Paris still discussed the
Oustrie scandal. Rich, relatively pros |
porous, become the lending power of |
the continent, military supreme. France |
still sees no material reason for modi- !
tying her foreign policy. The unmis- /
taxable expansion of economic disin- |
tegration' In all of Central Europe has |
All proposals of economic cooperation !
which may involve political changes dis !
advAntageolisly to her own security and |
influence. &.
You have then the fatal paradox in |
Europe: France possesses |
the power to block everything. She |
has natural and logical reasons for for /
bidding all projects based upon Central |
European combination under German |
leadership, and she has no domestic |
crisis driving her to subordi-
BRAND the presidency recently, France |
administered punish |
nent to the greatest champion OF Euro |
oea11 cooperation and the most distin- |
rushed advocate of Franco-German !
simply because in French |
Eyes he had permitted q dazzling Uto- |
plan conception to replace in his mind !
he solid realism on which French policy |
continues To be based. AS to the far !
reaching program proposed after his |
1efeat, Brands public read that in the !
light of recent events and interpreted 1t |
N terms of election vote.
IN sum, Europe Is economically going !
down hill, all countries in varying de- |
gree share in the deringolade; only |
France stands outside the new devas- |
;ated area But If France has escaped |
he economic catastrophe she still re- |
the military agony Of the last !
war. Thus now, as at every moment |
Iince the armistice, her policy is based !
Upon her assuring her security, and
behind the surfaca of every Central
European proposal she distrusts the /
act Of German design.