Evening star., 1932-06-12
u. S. IS IMPORTANT
LAUSANNE FACTOR
america, Though Unrepre-
sented, Will Bear Much
Weight.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.
About the time this week when the
Republican faithful in the Chicago
Stadium will be aCclaiming the re-
nomination of Herbert Hoover for the
Presidency of the United States, Ger
many and her reparation creditors will
assemble for the Lausanne Conference.
1t is scheduled to open Thursday.
The conference has to deal with
problems of grave international mag
nitude.
European craftsmanship Premier
Edouard Herrict of France and Chan
cellor Franz Won Papen of GERMANY
will mainly bestride the scene. The
militarist-monarchist government which
succeeded the Bruening ministry in
Berlin, while far more nationalist than
its predecessor, is not likely to take any
more advanced attitude at the con-
ference than DR.. Bruening would have
assumed. Couched in diplomatic terms.
Chancellor Won Papen will say at
Lausanne what Chancellor Breuning
would have saiG-that Germany's
creditors can take it or leave it.
No U. S. Representation.
The United States will not be repre-
unofficial observer. That does not
mean. of course, that the Hoover nd
ministration is either without concern
in what happens there or will remain
in ignorance thereof. Within an hours
train journey of Lausanne the Geneva
Disarmament Conference is still con-
tinuing. In Ambassador Gibson. Sem
Rtor Claude A. Swanson of Virginia
and Norman H. Davis, this country
has in Switzerland three shrewd rep
cesentatives, who are in intimate touch
with all the currents and croSs-cur-
rents of European politics, which will
manifest themselves at Lausanne, and
President Hoover and Secretary Stim-
son are relying upon them to keep un-
official eyes and ears wide open to
events in their immediate vicinity.
Although Uncle Sam will have no
place at Lausanne. he is in fact, though
an invisible presence. about the most
important person there. That is to say,
the European powers to which Ger
many owes reparationS are convinced
that sooner or later the United States
will bring itself to cancel or reduce war
debts in the same measure that Europe
makes concessions to Germany.
London. Paris. Rome, Brussels, War
saw, Prague, Belgrade and other capi-
of the American Congress on war debts.
The embassies and legations of the vari-
Gus European states have for months
been informing their respective home
authorities that the position Of Con-
gress accurately reflects American pub
lie sentiment. One or two more opti-
mistic European spokesmen in Wash
ington have been indulging the hope
that one or both Of the approaching
American national political conventions
would write into their platforms mag
unanimous plank on the debts.
Hopes Based on Moratorium.
Transatlantic hopes of getting Amer
1ca to cut debts if and when Europe
cuts reparations are based on the prece-
dent set by the Hoover moratorium.
Exactly one year ago this month, when
the moratorium was proclaimed the
United States broke abruptly with its
previously held theory that debts and
reparations could not under any cir
cumstances be linked. When President
Hoover did link them Europe persuaded
itself that they would never again be
unscrambled. Since that time world
economic conditions have steadily drift
ed from bad to worse. With depression
bearing heavily down upon the United
States itself this year. Europe is
strengthened in its belief that eventual
ly this country's own best interests will
drive it to realize that clean inter-
governmental debt slate is the salvation
OF the world. The most eminent ey-
ponent Of this theory in America is
Senator William E. Borah
A probable outcome of the Lausanne
Conference will be 'provisorium" to
take the place of the Hoover mora
torium, which expires July I. pro
visorium" would concede Germany the
privilege of discontinuing reparation
payments for the indefinite future, but
r1ecommit the Reich to the obligation
to resume pavments-at least the I'M
conditional reparation annuities-at
some later period. A likely condition
OF such an arrangement would be an
agreement on Germany's part to make
some regular contributions to her
creditors. even if these we're relatively
insignificant compared to present obli-
cations, as visible evidence that the
Reich's debts is regarded alive at Berlin
Anxious About Reich.
Considerable anxiety prevails in COM
petent Washington circles as to what
portendS both at Lausanne and later,
as far as the new Berlin government is
SCl4NclllSu Az D6SI, OndNCellOr Won
Papen and his ministerial colleagues
Will not reign much after July 81 when
another Reichstag is to be elected.
That the Hitler National Socialists will
emerge from the election so strong as
to demand the chancellorship and
domination of the government is held
to be fair certainty. 1t is not so sure
that either Hitler himself or any other
'Nazi' would Immediately assume the
chancellor's Office. But, if the Ger
man Fascists carry the election, some
body subservient to Hitler will almost
inevitably head the government.
1t remains only to be said that there
are authorities in this Capital who will
not be surprised if, despite current
Berlin official denials, the monarchy. in
some form, re-emerges later in the
year to succeed the Hindenburg presi-
dency and the "Weimar Republic" On
the other hand, there are informed
persons who insist that despite events
OF the recent past President Won Hin
denburg will under no circumstances
consent to the destruction of the Reich
constitution.
(Copyrieht. 1927