Evening star., 1931-06-04
Secretary Stimson in Europe.

political complexities that 1t is today,
no visit Of an American Secretary Of
State can be divested of importance,
however private and personal he seeks
to make his journey. Announcement
that Mr.. Stimson will spend the Sum-
sojourn, go to Rome, Paris, Berlin and
London, in the order named, Is there
fore a piece of international political
news of the first magnitude.
Speculation will naturally run rife,
both here and in Europe, as to the real
motive and purpose Of Col. Stimsons
travels. That he will not confine him
self to meteorological pleaSantrieS in
Italy, France, Germany and Great Brit
ain may be taken for granted. The ac-
complished American Secretary of State
is too much immersed in his job, too
conscious of the peculiarly heavy re-
sponsibilities it nowadays involves, to
eschew shop talk when he sits at
the same mahogany with Premier Mus
solini and Signor Grandi, with Presi-
dent Doumer and Foreign Minister
BRAND, with Chancellor Bruening and
DR.. Curtius and with Prime Minister
Macdonald and Foreign Secretary Hen
derson.
There is no single question now per-
picking European craftsmanship with
which the United States is not directly
or indirectly connected. With that
problem which President Hoover last
month, before the International Cham
ber of Commerce, starred as the worlds
paramount issue = disarmament - this
country by that utterance becomes
conspicuously associated. Early COM
ment on Col. Stimson's European plans
suggests that his chief mission is to re-
assure Old World governments and
statesmen that the United States is
burningly and yearningly anxious for
the success Of the 1892 Geneva Con-
ference. Latterly have come sugges-
tions that the conference might be in
definitely postponed, because Of revived
European .animosities anent such de-
velopments as the proposed German
Austrian customs union. Delay IN
patching up Franco-Italian naval limi-
tation differences is assigned as another
reason why Mother Europe is not yet
ready to call her wrangling daughters
in counsel for arms-stacking purposes.
The Secretary of State Is not the type
of person, nor, Of course, is it his pre-
rogative, to advise Europe what to do
amid its encircling gloom, political,
military and economic. Recent events
at Geneva demonstrated that European
countries look upon ways and means
for meeting their financial and indus
trial emeIg gencieS as matters OF more
urgency than armament questions. That
the Old World believes the New World,
and especially the United States, has
certain obligations" and duties" in the
domain Of transatlantic reconstruction
is well known. Europe holds that
lowered American tariffs, curtailed debts
owing to the United States Treasury,
and generally more generous" at
titude toward the plight in which
Europe finds itself would work wonders.
Rome. Paris, Berlin and London will
hang anxiously on Secretary Stimson's
every word, to find out whether he
radiates any gleam Of encouragement
along these lines.
Herbert Hoover's official adviser on
international relations goes globe-trot-
ting on the threshold Of another
American presidential campaign. 1t
would be illogical for either of the
great parties to dodge foreign affairs in
their respective 1882 platforms. The
mere fact that President Hoover on
recurring occasions-as only last week
at Valley Forge-termed Americas
economic situation a phase Of world
depression" makes it almost inevitable
that the Republican party, which will
renominate him, will take categorical
stand on that all-predominating issue.
DR.. Nicholas Murray Butler, an elder
G. o. P. statesman, addressing Columbia
University at New York on Tuesday,
said that 1--WE dare not sit indefinitely
by in conteinplative inaction" while the
forces OF unrest gather momentum
throughout the globe.
Perhaps Col. Stimson Is charged with
one of those fact-finding missions of
which the Chief Engineer is so fond,
with a view to ascertaining just what.
If anything, mighty Uncle Sam can do
to grapple with the crisis now holding
the world In its grip.
L.. mill rnn,rk laa IN