Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-05-29
LAUSANNE WILL BE FACED.
BUT EUROPE is GLOOMY
Inevitable Failure Seen, Thong Nations
Agree Farley Cannot Be Avoided.
Rift Appears Growing.

with Germany and with the other coun-
tries concerned. Washington tardily
recognized that political adjustment
must precede any kind of financial and
economic arrangement. The Ameri-
can hope was that France would be able
to achieve some kind Of general agree
nent, and then that Europe would ad-
dress America on the basis Of such an
arrangement.
This hope proved utterly Elusive. The
Hitler strength continued to augment
within Germany and to become more
and more intransigeant. The France
Italan naval dispute remained insoluble.
| The French effort at Danubian re-
construction was promptly vetoed by
both Germany and Italy. The dis
armament conference showed Europe
more hopelessly divided than at any
moment since the close of the World
War. and promptly put quietus on all
hopes entertained either in Washington
or London of benefiting the economic
and financial situation of the world by
tightening armament expenditures.
| Since the Hoover moratorium the pro-
greSsive disintegration of Europe. politi-
cally. financially and economically, has
proceeded with increasing pace. The
Presidents attempt to give Europe q
respite in the hope of permitting recov-
cry has proved useless. And the conse-
quence has been that international
trade has steadily diminished and the
status of international loans has become
increasingly precarious. Now, when the
year of grace has almost elapsed, a con-
ference to deal with the acute problems,
after nearly six months postponement.
meets without any remote prospect OF
achievement.
Nor is there likely to be any real
change in the European situation as
long as the rise of the National So
cialist movement in Germany contln-
ues. France is profoundly alarmed by
the program and the spirit disclosed by
the followers of Hitler. The anxiety
extends to every class in French So
ciety, and the comments OF Herrlot
upon the situation have been far more
unreserved than those of Tardleu,
whom he has now defeated AS far as
France and Germany are concerned
literally nothing can be done OF any
real value until the "Nazi' storm has
either passed or at least abated.
Conditions to Get Worse.
All of which is another way Of say
ing that Americans must recognize
that conditions in Europe are almost
certain to be worse before they are bet.
ter and that discussion of financial and
economic problems in Europe is OF no
more than academic Importance while
the political issues remain IN their
present state The steady decline OF
American exports to Europe is only one
phase of the general situation. An
other is the practical elimination OF
international exchange save in few
necessary products, and then under the
most rigid restriction by quota ana
other methods.
What makes it difficult for Amer
leans to perceive the actual prospect
in Europe is the fact that the situation
is discussed from this side OF the At
lantic almost exclusively from the eco
nomic and financial standpoint. The
political difficulties are dismissed with
the brief statement that some way
must be found for France and Germany
to get together" and it is assumed that
the need is so great the result will come
about almost automatically. But France
and Germany and France and Italy are
in fact drifting or marching In dlf1er-
ent directions with increasing speed.
Polish and German anlmosltles are De-
coming daily more acute, as reports
from Danzig disclose.
All of which is another way OF say
Ing that as the QrSC anniversary Ol tllc
Hover moratorium approaches, it is
becoming clearer and clearer that 1t
has proved futile in every respect save
as a temporary expedient. The year OF
respite granted has not been employed
to provide a program for the future.
All the various international meetings
have come to nothing. Therefore, the
question of American recovery from the
depression becomes increasingly a ma
tional and not an international mat
ter. France, Germany and Italy, to-
gether with many smaller countries,
still place questions of national political
importance above those of economic
Significance. Cooperation on the con-
tinent becomes increasingly impossible
as a consequence.
Thus, in the larger sense, the World
War still continues in Europe and the
devastations of this conflict continue to
extend. And until the combatant coun-
tries are ready to abandon the con-
flict, to compromise their national dis
putes and at least adjourn their racial
issues, talk of economic and financial
recovery is largely futile. Lausanne is
going to prove one more example Of
! this basic fact.
Copyright, 1922