Evening star., 1932-06-20
GIBSON AND HOOVER TALK.
Washington Believed Dissatisfied With
ParleyS.
BY PAUL SCOTT MOWRER.

BY PAUL SCOTT MOwRER
BY Gable to The Star.
LAUSANNE. June 2O.-Ten years of
misunderstanding between the United
States and Europe seem to be rapidly
coming to head at the Lausanne and
Geneva conferences.
1t is known that Ambassador Hugh
S. Gibson, head of the American dele
CATION to the Geneva disarmament
parley. and President Hoover held long
telephone conversations yesterday aft
ernoon. It is believed Washington is
far from satisfied with the way things
are reported to be going at Geneva and
Lausanne. But neither is Europe sat-
isf1ed with way things are reported to
be going in Washington.
Some lively conversations therefore
seem likely. Indeed. they began yester-
cay at Geneva, where the American
delegation made it clear to the French
and British that the plan of the latter
to wind up the disarmament meeting
American suggestion, is by no means
acceptable.
The issue stands thus: Ever since
the Harding administration the United
States has continually said: 1T is al
most impossible for us to cooperate
with a divided Europe But put your
own house in order. Disarm Make
peace. Settle reparations. All these
are issues which concern you and not
us. and We have no intention of taking
sides in your disputes. When you have
done this. however. you can rely on us
to be fair and helpful as far as possible >
Europe now replies-and this so far
IS the whole meaning and purpose OF
the Lausanne Conference: 1T is easy
for you to talk thus, but as a matter OF
fact you are now the greatest and
strongest power in the world You are
factor in political equilibrium, in dis
armament and in the organization OF
peace and you are by far the biggest
creditor nation in both private and
ntergovernmental debts.
Insists on Cooperation.
''It is almost impossible for us to
reach any constructive agreement with
out your simultaneous and active CO.
operation All of us have our domestic
politics and we quite understand you
have yours. Yet the entire world. in
cluding us and you. is now in such a
desperate economic plight that your re-
fusal to join us here is little short of
tragedy.
But you do refuse and we have to
accept the fact. What we intend to do,
therefore. is to take you at your word
and try to put our house in order, reach
our own solution and then at some later
date tender you the result. But We warn
you that in these circumstances it is
really not our fault if you are diSsat-
iSfied with Ollr finding"
That depends on what sort OF solu-
ton you have in mind" Washington
answers.
IF we cancel reparations, Europe
explains. I'VE expect you to cancel the
war debts. The only difference among
us here is that some want to make our
agreement definitely contingent on your
cancellation, while others want simply
to trust to your generosity.
In disarmament we feel that the
best thing Is to end the conference
quickly on a minimum program. for it
has dragged along so hopelessly it tends
now to destroy public confidence"
Just minute" Washington seems to
say If you make such reparatiors
settlement as that, you will appear to
be putting some sort of blame and pres
sure on us. We resent such pressure.
There is no relation, either juridical or
moral, between reparations and wa-
debts. We want you to settle repara-
tions regardless Of the war debts. If
Germany can pay, we have no objec-
ton. If Germany cannot pay. it is no
concession to cancel. Our policy is to
deal with each of our debtors sepa-
rately on the basis of capacity to pay.
We see no reason to change this policy
now.
Wants Quick Result.
Regarding disarmament, we want a
quick result as badly as you do. But
your minimum program can scarcely
save money to a poor world, even If it
is a success. We want you to complete
the London naval treaty and do on land
something as drastic as We have done
in the matter of naval disarmament
We want you to disarm in such way
that the tension will be eased. Other
wise our public opinion will be skeptical
and it will be all the more difficult for
us to make further sacrifices in the mat
ter of the war debts.
I'VE realize that land armaments are
mainly q European affair. but it Is in
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