Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
WORLD DEPRESSION RELIEF
PLAN GIVEN BY ECONOMISTS
Financial, Economic, Social and Political
Solutions for National and Interna-
tional Problems Offered Statesmen.

depression can neither be explained nor
overcome save internationally. Under
| these circumstances a small group of
international economists and political
| thinkers In Paris Is putting forward
| for the consideration Of statesmen, who
now travel SO frequently from capital
! to capital, conservative and con-
structive program intended to serve as
a basis for possible national and in
ternational solutions.
Four Measures Offered.
This program Is divided into four
headings: Financial, economic, social
| and political. In the opinion of its
authors, measures under all these head
mgS should be carried on stimuli
taneouSly.
Financial.
/. Efforts to retard dedation should
be abandoned. All prices, including
wages, should be allowed TO fall to their
natural economic level. Stocks of goods
should be hquidated at whatever the
loss. The theory is that the sooner de-
fiatton runs its course, the sooner will
be real recovery and the shorter will be
the suffering.
2. Credit, except for public works or
the development Of new markets. should
De restricted, not expanded, in order
to restore the habits Of thrift and cash
dealings.
3. Artificial trade barriers, including
tariffs, should be lowered either d.
rectly or by preferential regional agree
ments or by both.
Public Works Proposed.
4. Programs Of national and interna-
tional public works Of genuine utility
should be planned and executed.
B. Concerted efforts should be made
to restore by political and financial CO.
operation old markets now disrupted
| ike India and China. Similar effort
should be made to develop new mar
ketS; for example, by improving COM
mun1cationS, financing farmers in East
ern and Southeastern Europe, whose
standard Of living Is susceptible Of
being greatly raised and who number
many millions Of possible consumers.
Economic.
/. The gold bullion standard should
| De vigorously adhered to and defended
where 1t still exists and gradually re-
stored where it has been abandoned
Tnere Is plenty Of gold. Its present
unequal distribution viii be quickly cor
rected when general political and social
ton. as good thing of controlled cur
rency OF bimetallisn, should be combat
ted as unsound.
Government Economy Urged.
2. Government expenditures should
be reduced in every way possible, first,
70 balance the budgets, and later, to
reduce taxes. Extravagant social ex-
penditures should be limited to the
necessary minimum. So should arma-
ments. Preparations and war debts,
after new and careful study Of the
question in all its aspects, should be,
Il not Cancelled, at least drastically re-
Social.
l. In countries suffering more or less
permanent overpopulation, birth control
should be pt'blicly encouraged.
2. An 1nte3 national emigration bureau
should be A'rmed to help direct the
now OF popu alton from the overpopu-
earth.
Politics Stability Needed.
Political.
It Is recogni4sd that internal and ex-
ternal political uncertainty Is for
mloable obstaGe to all forms Of con-
Struct1ve, 1nterh ational action and CO.
operation. Only rapid dedation and
SeAtS1h ecOuouA Improvement can, u
Is considered, cue internal political un-
certainty in thg 50 countries where 1t
most conspicuo lSly exists. Certain
measures Of socJtl relief meanwhile are
necessary, but I icy should be kept to
the minimum ard abolished as soon as
possible.
In the international field the authors
OF this program consider the greatest
obstacle to the Necessary harmony the
controversy over whether peace treaties
should be reviseu or not They believe
this issue Is not Sone which can be an.
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