Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-17
REMEDY designed to bring back
prosperity to Europe is con-
tanned in the May issue of the
a International Cancellation Doc

~ prosperity to Europe is con-
"A tanned in the May issue of the
4 a International Cancellation Doc
ument, published by the Car
negie Endowment for International
Peace and made public yesterday.
Under the title Europe as See It
Today" William Martin of the Journal
de Geneve sets forth some striking
facts regarding Europe. Twenty years
of peace are necessary for Europe to
solve its problems. In the preface to
the document Nicholas Murray Butler,
president of the endowment, wrote !:
Even those most familiar with the
subject treated will find these pages of
new and vital interest"
Excerpts from Mr.. Martins findings
follow:
ITO study the present situation of
Europe with any hope of clear compre-
henSion, it is necessary to fix three
ideas firmly in mind. The first is that
European problems are not solely Eu-
ropean.
Other Continents Affected.
Technical progress in matters Of
communications and industrys neces-
sity to procure in other continents raw
materials and markets cause conditions
and happenings in one continent to
react on the situation of others. Con-
moral Importance for the other CONT
nents. as our difficulties affect the en-
tire world but the opposite Is no less
true. An adequate study of Europe
cannot then be made without a thor
ough knowledge of the situation of the
rest of the world.
In the second place, it is necessary
to understand the fact that the events
most important for Europe are not in
the field of politics. The profound
causes of political events must be
sought for in the economic field which
itself primarily affects the social order.
The field of politics appears only In the
background.
Finally. it Is necessary to remember
that the situation is never static, never
immobile. There are people who look
upon the conditions of their epoch as
upon a landscape and believe that these
can be described without knowing
whence they came or where they are
going. Such is not our method. His
tory is continuous movement. That
which has been will never be again,
but that which is Is the result of that
which was, the cause of that which will
be. To reason on the subject of pres
ent-day Europe, its institutions, its
having at least moderately accurate
idea Of Europe before the war, would
be fantastic. Is it not the task of our
generation to solve the problems with
which we are faced and which were not
solved by our predecessors?
Four Elements in Crisis.
What is called crisis-and in these
days the word is somewhat abuSed-iS
often only a process of readaptation,
being a momentary divorce. between
that which was and that which Is It
Is in that sense that one can speak
concerning Europe of today as passing
through quadruple crisis; crisis of
international relations, an internal po-
litical crisis in each country, an eco
nomic crisis and a social crisis which
results therefrom. 4
The war has brought about an eco
non1ic upheaval, not only by enormous
wastage of wealth and destruction of
material, but also because of the de-
velopnfent given to the means Of indus
trial production in certain countries
When one thinks of the conse-
quences of the war for France, for ex-
ample, one sees clearly the devastated
regions Of the north, but rarely notices
the fact that the ruined industry of
the north was replaced even during the
war in other parts of the country, so
that when the invaded regions were re-
constructed France found herself in
possession of an enormously increased
industrial plant. 1t was the same with
the other belligerent countries, and
even the neutral countries developed
their industry under the stimulation Of
the hight prices paid for munitions
When the war was ended all this ma
chinery was turned to the products of
peace and Europe. already over-indus-
trtalized before the war, then found
itself in possession of considerably in
creased modern and perfected means Of
industrial production
An increase of markets was neces-
sary TO correspond to this industrial de-
Velopment, but the contrary was the
case. There was a breaking down of
the normal currents of commerce dis
organized by blockade of nearly five
years, foreign markets were lost, certain
OF which. for example, Latin America
and the British Dominions, had devel-
oped their own machinery for indus
trial productions, and others, like Rus
STA and China, had been weakened by
revolution. resulting In the impoverish-
ment OF the European market itself.
Ihls improvement vas the result OF
The obstruction of national resources
For mary centuries European history
nas followed constant curve. Two or
three generations living in peace, pro-
ouclng more than they consume, &C
cunulate economies. little by little rails
ing the standard of living which permits
them TO consume and to produce more
and more. Suddenly, when catastro-
phe occurs such as a general war. these
reserves are destroyed. The standard OF
living is reduced and again men begin
10 work for the future like ants whose
anthill has been destroyed.
NatfonaIities MuItiniied
<"At first the attempt was made To
establish as principle of Law the right
Of peoples To self-determination which
Is nationalist principle in all Its logi-
cal consequences. A series Of new states