Evening star., 1932-11-13
BY PAUL SCOTT MowRER.

ARIS.-A new and better atmos-
phere seems to be spreading in
Europe almost overnight. In
ternational tension seems to be
lessening PeSsimism seems at
last to be giving way to mild optimism.
New hopes are budding on the ground
of old despair.
People no longer are laughing cynic-
ally at the idea Of general disarma-
ment treaty. Fears that the Far East
ern crisis may lead to a Russo Japanese
or Japanese American war are van
ishing.
The world economic conference is
being taken seriously. 1t is now gener-
ally believed that the Lausanne repara-
tions settlement will be followed in the
near future by a new debt settlement,
which, together with some means OF
lowering tariff barriers, will help pull
the world out of the economic depres-
sion.
Elections Have Effect.
The results of the American and Ger
man elections, while not directly re-
sponsible for this better feeling, are
thought to be favorable to its develop
ment. Especially is there pronounced
relief that the suspense, due to the ne
cessity of postponing all major negotia-
tions until these elections we're over, Is
now ended.
1t is anticipated, however, that some
means will be evolved whereby the
United States can almost Immediately
resume its vital role in these negotia-
| tions, backed by the full prestige OF the
| incoming Democratic administration.
All this, of course, is merely psyche
| logical. So far not single concrete
agreement has been reached and all the
! old difficulties are still lurking as lively
as ever in the immediate background.
| Yet, with nations, as with individuals.
| actions result from states OF mind ana
| If, as seems today to be fact, Europe s
state of mind has suddenly improved
then 1t can be reasonably deduced that
| the possibility of agreement in forth
coming talks is increased.
Better Feeling Shown.
An idea of what is happening can
perhaps best be obtained by looking
back to the opening of the Disarma-
ment Conference last February. At that
| time no two great powers were really on
terms of good understanding with one
another. Suspicion was not the excep-
lion, but the rule. Certain able diplomats
soon perceived the impoSsibility of tech
nical disarmament agreements when no
basis had been laid in the form Of po-
litical agreements, yet the confeEgnce
surged ahead in an effort to achieve We
suits by purely technical means.
These efforts, in the mind, failed, yet
at the same time, little by little, moves
were made during the conference itself
to lay the political foundations which
might more normally have been laid
in advance.
France and Great Britain drew to-
gether at Lausanne. The United States,
after some hesitation. decided to keep
close to France and Great Britain. Rus
sia, meanwhile, was buSily negotiating
non-aggression pacts with all its Western
neighbors for the purpose, among other
things, of ultimately facilitating dis
armament. Russia also took steps which
it hoped would lead to better relations
with the United States and at the same
time began a series of talks tending to
lessen the strain with Japan.
Obstacles to Accord.
There remained, then, three main
obstacles to successful international
cooperation: The Franco-Italian diff
ficulties, the acute Franco German
tension and the Japanese American
tension.
Yet within the last few weeks-it
might even be said the last few days
there have been political improvements
in even these stubborn problems.
France and Italy have suddenly begun
to exchange kind words and SLY
glances. French Premier Edouard Her
riots new disarmament plan, giving
Germany equal rights, will seemingly
result in the return of the Germans
to the Disarmament Conference and in
some intimate Franco German talks
Last, but not least, it is today rela-
lively clear that neither the United
States nor Europe is going to force
the Manchurian issue with Japan
Manchukuo will not be recognized, yet