Evening star., 1932-04-03

Oh arms conference nave no confidence
In each other. Too many political ques-
tions have remained unsolved since the
end of the World War.
Results Seen In Presence.
To solve them the European nations
need an unbiased diplomat to smooth
over various difficulties, and it is
thought that the best qualified man for
the job is the American Secretary of
State. Not that he will be able to solve
the century-old miStrustS, hatreds and
fears, but it is thought that he might
be helpful as an individual and as the
spokesman of one of the greatest
powers in the world to convince the
struggling parties that today, more than
ever, it Is in the interest of each coun-
try in particular and the world In gen.
eral for nations to bury the hatchet
ana smoke the long neglected peace
pipe.
Consequently, while disarmament Is
officially the main reason why the Sec
| retary OF State Is going to Europe. he
undoubtedly will, In the privacy of his
Motel room, discuss with the European
leaders the main problems which make
1t SO difficult for the world to over
come the present political and economic
depression.
Three Major Problems.
AS far as Europe is concerned there
are tnree principal problems which
nave heretofore made abortive any at
tempt to bring about a political under
stanolng among its principal nations
oeoCs, reparat1onS and security
The debts and the reparations are
considered the main cause of the pres
ent economic unrest
Inc question OF security has been the
stumbling block which has prevented
disarmament There are. of course.
other important matters such as certain
provisions in the treaty of Versailles.
the Franco-Italian naval dispute and
the economic situation of Central Eu-
rope which are of great importance. but
the European diplomats consider them
incidental to the three main problems
and believe that their solution will come
later.
So far as the American Government
Is concerned, its interest is centered in
the solution by the European powers
themselves OF all their problems and
In the actual stand the League of Ma
tions Is willing to take in the Sino-
japanese conflict, which Is more and
more developing into japanese -Ameri-
can controversy on account of our inter-
ests In the open-door policy In the Far
East.
The visit Of Mr. Stimson at Geneva
might easily develop into some unex-
pected cooperation between Europe and
America for the solution Of all these
problems. Some two weeks ago a he
French Ambassador at Washington&M
Paul Claudel, stated in a speech in Chi
cago that the people of this country
should not worry about how to avoid
international entanglements, but about
how to get out Of these entanglements.
because America is in them at present
The words Of the Ambassador
may have been prophetic For the time
being, the United States believes that
it Is outside the political turmoil of the
world. 1t is possible that after the re-
turn Of the Secretary from Europe we
snail be IN it for good.
Debt Question Delicate,
Naturally, Secretary Stimson will not
be able to give any undertaking to
Europe about the question of debts.
The attitude Of the United States re-
garding this question has been for
mally stated by the President and by
| the Congress. If there Is any move or
proposition to be made regarding a
possible readjustment it must come
from Europe first. Furthermore neither
Europe nor the administration consider
It proptttous to bring into the limelight
tnls problem until after the .presiden-
t1al elections. But while the debt uues-
| ton will not be brought before the
public again, there Is a danger that the
european nations might confront this
| country with some accomplished fact
at the end Of the Hoover intergovern-
mental debt holiday on July /. 1t is
! quite possible that the Secretary of
State in his private conversations with
the British and the French might point
out to them the dangers OF bringing up
! this question before It Is definitely
| known who will be the next President
OF the United States.
In regard to the reparations question.
America has nothing to say at the pres
ent moment. The fact is, however. that
Germany does not intend to resume
payments at the end of the present mo-
ratorium year, and the consequences of
such a failure are fraught with very
serious dangers for Europe's peace. The
European powers have been irving IN
| get together and find some modus vi
vendi since last Winter. when they had
planned to meet and discuss this prob
! lem at Lausanne. The Lausanne con-
ference had to be adjourned twice be-
cause the preliminary private negotia-
tions between the British and French
governments had not yielded any re-
suits. 1t seems that both these gov
ernmentS, which are principally inter
I ested In the reparations question, cannot
find common basis for an understand
ing. 1t Is possible that In the CONVEX
sations between Mr.. StimSon and the
British, the French and the German
representatives at Geneva some wav out
should be found. Secretary Stimson
and Mr.. Mellon, who arrives In London
a week before Mr.. Stinlson arrives at
Geneva. have played an important role
in the temporary settlement of the rep-
arations question last year. 1t is as
sumed that while not playing such a
direct part again. Mr.. Stimson will help
the European statesmen to find some
way at least to postpone for while the
issues of the reparations.
Security Vital Issue.
In the privacy Of their rooms, the
spokesman Of the world powers win
necessarily discuss what could be done
about the question Of security, which
has taken an entirely new aspect since
the open Japanese defiance of all inter
national treaties and obligations
When the general Disarmament Con-