Evening star., 1932-04-19
EUROPEANS HOPING
FOR CHANGE BY U.s..
Stimson's Participation in
Conference ReviveS Old
Speculation in Geneva.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

Secretary Henry L. Stimson's appear
ance in the meeting hall of the League
OF nations as a member of the Ameri-
can Disarmament Conference caused a
mild sensation, which was only natural
since very few people. even at Geneva.
ever expected to see Americas foreign
secretary take his place at the official
table of the League.
1t Is true that the Geneva meeting
Is outside the League Of Nations, which
Is merely lending the building and its
personnel for the Disarmament Con-
ference; 1t Is also true that other out
sioers, such as Russia and Turkey, are
al the same table at Geneva. But the
presence OF Americas Secretary Of State
mas an entirely different significance
from the Geneva point of view at least.
WnAe Iurkey is by way of becoming a
tnenper OF the League and while no.
Dooy wants the Soviet Republic to join
me League, everybody at Geneva hopes
C,aas Mr. Stimsons entrance in the
Councll chamber might mean the be-
ginning OF change In Americas view
point toward the League. Geneva has
aIWayS been optimistic and has again
ana again tried to draw inferences from
various actions Of the State Depart
ment ana was invariably disappointed
Situation Is Peculiar.
GeneYas hopes are raised again
tooay 1t Is because of the peculiar in
ternatlonal situation in which the
onIted states finds itself at present
Whlle the disarmament delegates are
discussing disarmament in its various
ASPECTS and are endeavoring to frame
some general resolution which will
meet tne approval Of the principal par
CIcipatlng nations out of the half doZ-
en- suggestions which have been brought
forward, Secretary Stimson and the
leaders OF the French. British. italian
and German delegations are discuss
ing the more important side issues on
which depends the whole disarmament
problem.
Ihese issues are debts, reparations.
the political aspects of the German
french and German Italian situations
and, as far as America is concerned
the Far Eastern situation.
Close InterIinking Seen.
1t appears today more than ever. ac.
ccrding to American observers who
nave recently returned from Geneva
and Paris, that the economic and dis
armament questions are closely inter
linked with the political dissensions
between France, Italy and Germany.
and the Sino-Japanese conflict.
The reparation problem, which will
come before the public only in June.
curing the Lausanne Financial Con-
ference, Is actively discussed at Geneva
az present. Germany has repeatedly
Stateo IN ofnclsl declarations from her
leaders and in private conyersations
between Herr Bruening and the French
and the British prime ministers that
she will not be able to meet her ohli-
cations under the treaty of Versailles
and the Young plan at the expiration
OF the Hoover intergovernmental debt
ho1oay; Everybody in Europe is con-
Sequently expecting a default on the
part OF Germany, but there are a good
many ways to make that default less
less important. '
according to certain American ohserv-
ers, the French. who hold in their
hands the key to the situation have
not made up their mind as TO how thev
are going to act when the Germans
request new indefiniate postponement
OF all reparation payments. 1t depends
1t Is said. on certain political arrange
ments which may or may not be
reached in the confabs between Sec
retary Sttmson and the European lead
ers.
May Seek Entente.
According to certain American OBJ
servers, the French. who have never
"alVered in their demands of no dis
armament without security" are will
ing 10 listen to any proposals which
might give France complete confidence
that Whatever may happen. the United
states and Great Britain would be ON
ner SIDE. The French are not demand
ing ofilcially any alliances or security
pactS. but it is said that, If some ar
rangements could be reached whereby
the British government would enter
into definite agreement like the
entente pact of 1905, and If the Amer
lcan Government would agree to some
thing more definite than a consultative
pact, France might see her way to help
out the rest of the world in connection
with the question Of reparations and
her whole attitude toward Germany,
france, 1t Is said, would go even
step further and cooperate more
Wnoleheartedly than heretofore for the
maintenance Of peace in both hemis-
phereS.
Secretary Stimson's hands are tied by
Congress, and he could not promise
anything like an American participation
In q security past or any eventual re-
duction OF the allied war debts. But he
Will be necessarily forced to Join the
other nations in exploring the possibil-
tiles OF getting Europe together again.
The Far Eastern situation weiehs
heavily on the minds of the American
statesmen. They are not so much con-
cerned with any actual dangers of
serious conflict with Japan, but they
are concerned about the inviolabiltty of
the solemnly signed treaties and agree
ments which guarantee each of the
absolute territorial integrity
and protection in case of an unwar-
ranted aggression Of any nation that
may run amuck.
U. S. No Longer Isolated.
The United States has the Atlantic
and the Pacific Oceans as the best safe
guards for her security. This country is
geographically safe from any attack or
Invasion. But America is no longer iso-
lated economically and politically. The
Far Eastern crisis has proved this
amply. The American economic inter-
ests in the Far East are of such a
nature that this country cannot claim
not to be interested in what is happen
Ing 5000 miles away from her shores.
1t is this argument which is being used
at present at Geneva by most Of the
European leaders who wish to see Amer
lea take greater responsibility in world
affairs.
1t is said that the French. who are
realists in international politics, are
using the present situation in the Far
East as q concrete example to show
now closely mterwoven are the Ameri-
can interests with the interests Of the
rest Of the world.
The situation in the Far East is now
deadlocked. Although it Is reported
that the Japanese-Ch Chinese negotiations
VIII be resumed next WAdnesdau at