Evening star., 1933-06-25
ii, s. SWITCH HELD.
. AID TO CONFERENCE
Presidents Action Discredits
Delegation, but Leaves
ParIey in Better Shape.
BY WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE.


BY Radio to The Star.
LONDON. June "a (N.AN.AD.-The
second week OF the World Economic
Conference ends more hopefully than
the first week began.
International conferences go through
these pessimistic phases in their earlier
stages-infantile diseases OF misunder-
standing. -.
It is unfortunate the Americans could
not have been entirely frank when they
landed, but unfortunately the American
delegation during the first week OF the
conference was as ignorant OF the truth
of its situation as though it had come
from another planet. The American
delegates did not know why the dollar
began to jig the day they arrived IN
London. They did not realize another
commission of bankers, quite apart
from this delegation and with quite in
dependent instructions, was working on
the dollar.
When the dollar was stabilized for a
few DAYS by rumor, the American dele
cation could not know that American
commodity prices would slump and
wreck the whole program OF the agenda
as far as Americas participation IN
the conference was concerned.
Agenda Practically Abandoned.
On the boat Secretary of State Hull
and the experts discussed with reporters
the agenda of the conference prepared
in January They landed believing the
agenda was their program. They de-
clared vociferously they could not de-
part from it. Yet today sees the Amer
lean delegation practically abandoning
the whole agenda, and all because 1t
was discovered upon trial that stablllZa-
ton of the dollar here would wreck the
frail craft of prosperity at home.
So we have abandoned discussion OF
the gold standard for the time being,
and still do nothing about tariffs. We
still look to control commodity prices
only through initiation at home or its
equivalent, and two weeks have been
wasted in discovering the truth.
The two weeks have been worse than
wasted. BY the inevitable lack of can
dor rising from its changing status at
home, the American delegation has lost
its leadership.
President Roosevelt, by switching his
program to save prosperity, has discred-
tied his delegation here. Probably the
choice forced upon him was not easy.
The result is not pleasant.
Poorly Stage Managed.
Whether it is true or not, Europe be-
lieves America has yacillated, that the
American delegation is without status
at home, that Bernard Baruch Is in
charge at Washington, that Assistant
Secretary of State Raymond Moley Is
coming over to take charge and that
Herbert Bayard Swope, another per-
sonal representative Of the President,
is bringing a consignment of assorted
monkey wrenches to throw into the
machinery Of the conference.
Fairly or unfairly, Prof. Moley has
is to be greeted by the jeers: "Moley,
Moley, Moley, Lord God Almighty" a
chant of gibing Britishers, which rough
ly indicates opinion in Europe about
the professor. 1t is unjust, he will over
come it probably, but he is having
bad entrance
In the meantime it is becoming more
obvious every day as President Roose-
velt's domestic program Is understood
here that we are going into mild form
Of sugar-coated Fascism, that industry
is passing out Of individual control and
that Great Britain and the United
States are doing under threat Of bank
ruptcy what Russia did through bloody
lluuolly Cdp-
ital.
Europe Is Impressed.
The example of the United States
turning away from rugged individualism
into regimented state socialism has
impressed Europe tremendously. The
events Of this week in the conference,
particularly the abandonment Of the
agenda to save our home program, have
called attention to the latest American
experiment. It leaves the world dazed
and uncertain, but 1t leaves the con-
ference in better shape. 1t will be able
to proceed now without expecting mira
cles from America. America, which was
the sheet anchor Of Europe, is no long
er dependable Men can now man the
pumps intelligently and keep the old
ship af1oat.
As far as America Is concerned, the
probable salvage of an agreement on
wheat, looking to control and reduction
Of acreage in the four great wheat-ex-
porting countries of the world, will be
worth all the conference has cost.
Copyright, 1888. by North American News