Evening star., 1932-12-25
Parliament Worried
By Worlds inaction
BY A. G. GARDINER.

LONDON. December 24.-Parliament
packed up its troubles in its old kit bag
Thursday for the Christmas recess, with
all the problems affecting the world
still in suspense.
The expectation that some solution
would be reached before Christmas in
regard to Manchuria was disappointed
The Committee Of Nineteen, to which
the League Of Nations Assembly intrust-
ed the problem. has decided not to
publish the resolutions indicating
further meetings to January l6 "in
order to allow conversations between
the parties to be pursued"
This is held to be further concession
to the Japanese policy Of delay, and in
Liberal circles Sir John Simon, British
foreign secretary, is bitterly criticized
for the equivocal leadership he has
given to British action in q matter
which involves not only the Sanctity Of
treaties but the existence Of the League.
Progress In regard to the war debts
was equally negative, for the reception
Of President Hoover's message only
served to emphasize the impasse in
American political affairs. President
elect Roosevelt's rejection O. Mr.
Hoover's debt commission and his re-
1usal to cooperate in immediate nego-
tiationS occaSioned little surprise here
in view of his past attitude, though the
tone Of the refusal was much remarked
on. In the circumstances. doubt is
expressed whether a useful purpose
would be served by immediate negotia-
tions, conducted by an outgoing Exec
utive, which could not reach decision
by March 4.
Mr.. Roosevelt's reported choice Of
Owen D. Young and Bernard Baruch as
advisers on the war debts and allied
problems was favorably received, owing
to Mr.. Young's intimate association
with the reparations schemes and the
fact that both are well acquainted in
Europe and possess an international
outlook on financial and economic
problems.
The London Times. which Is favor
able to President Hoovers projected
commission, insists on the urgency of
the matter and the danger OF nearly
three months loss of time 1t says
en agreement must be reached before
June if there is not to be a crisis and
a series Of defaults disastrous to the
countries affected.
Mr.. Hoover's message is regarded as
showing a more realistic attitude to-
ward the debt problem than his previ-
Gus utterances. There is no trace Of
the former illusion that America could
be prosperous independently Of the rest
Of the world. He recognizes that a
solution of the general problem is as
vital to America as to Europe.
One omission from Mr.. Hoover's sur
vey of causes of the world depression
is the subject Of comment. This re-
fers to the tariff and other measures
taken by the United States to prevent
debtor countries from paying their debts
in the normal and only practicable
way-by goods and services. This
aspect Of the matter was the subject
of a remarkable speech on Tuesday
by Sir Alan Anderson, chairman OF the
causes Of the world shipping depres-
sion. He said that one Of the main
policy of subsidizing merchant ship-
ping. During the five years the policy
has been In operation the total amount
provided by the American taxpayer 70
keep the merchant navy on the seas
was f600,o0000O, equivalent at par to
eight times the cost of the Panama
Canal and ESQ, ,0000 900 more than the
total war debt payments to America.
''This," said Sir Alan, SIS dumping
in the most flagrant form by pro-
viding something far below the cost
of production to destroy legitimate, un-
subsidized competition"
Commenting on this, the Times and
the Daily Telegraph both remark that
shipping service was one Of the princi-
pal means for England to defray the
war debt to the United States. The
latter observes that the American tariff
prevents England from paying in goods
and that the American taxpayer is
penalized to the tune Of f600. 0.00o, 900
to prevent England from paying in
services.
The American subsidy policy Is fol-
lowed by France and Italy and the
desperate position of British shipping
is creating the gravest anxiety. The
British governuRnt refused to adopt