Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-28
ISOLATION Of j. S.
' EXPECTED TO END
Hoover Debt Proposal Hailed
by Europe as Marking
Change in Policy.
BY LELAND STOWE.

BY Gable to The Star.
PARIS, June 27-President Hoover's
debt moratorium proposal is hailed in
France and throughout the continent as
marking the end of American isolation
from Europe. AS such it is regarded by
all odds the most far-reaching change
in Washington's foreign policy since
Wilson brought the IA points across the
Atlantic. Therefore, Europe is prepared
to regard the new Hoover policy as a
significant turning point in America S
attitude toward the rest Of the world.
But it should Immediately be recog-
nized that Washington's timely inter-
vention to ease the debt-paying nations
burdens and aid the economic recovery
actually is two-edged. It is a momen-
tous reversal of Washingtons attitude
toward debts and reparations-at least
in the French interpretation-but it
also alters completely Frances position
as related to debts and reparations.
France Loses Initiative.
President Hoover's courageous and
energetic action has deprived France Of
taking the initiative on the reparations
crisis. and it has prevented her from
dominating the question. Thus what
has the aspects of brilliant success for
American diplomacy has the accom-
panytng effect of sharply limiting the
scope of French diplomacy. For the
first time in five years or more France
finds her dominating places in Europe
as concerns debts and reparations
snatched from her and occupied by an
other nation--of all people, the United
States Of America.
The opportunity for French construc-
I'D fr 1vy IL srl. =
Now France must associate with con-
structive leadership in the role of Sec
ond fiddle or assume a negative attitude
which would be highly dangerous for
Europe and for her own prestige. Per-
haps one of the greatest benefits of
President Hoover's initiative Is that it
has iolted France from sit tight" pol
icy, which in recent months has been
fraught with increasingly disturbing and
unfortunate potentialities. Something
drastic was needed to make the French
government realize the grave dangers in
Germany and In Central Europe and the
supreme need Of doing something about
the conditions LaisSer faire, as cham
pioned by far too great a percentage
Of French spokesman, threatened dis
aSter.
Europe Sheds Gloom.
Now although the pill may be bitter
one and contains serious difficulties of
internal politics for the government, a
new point of departure has been made.
For the first time In IL black months
and at time when the horizon is
darker than ever, Europe feels a re-
surge of confidence and a glimmering
hope that there is some way out. And
in the view of many experienced OBJ
servers here, Washington at last has
shouldered in whole-hearted fashion
the world leadership which for years
has been hers for the taking.
No one can yet safely foretell how far
this new leadership and spirit of CO.
operation may carry all the nations
concerned. Doubtless, there will be OBJ
stacles and disappointments. but what
is of paramount importance for the
moment is that entirely new possibilities
have been opened, up. At last Europe
does not seem to be sliding heedlessly
toward revolution, social breakdown