Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-04-27
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

Government.
This belief was based on the fact
that in its note accepting the invitation
to attend the World Economic Con-
ference, the American Government
stated emphatically that 1t would not
tolerate the discussion Of war debts
Now that the administration has stated
that war debts form an integral part of
the settlement of the world economic
problems, the French Chamber will
without doubt. ratify the payment of
the delayed installment, knowing that
this will be the last the debtor nations
will be required to pay under the old
debt funding agreements.
It Is probable that this payment will
be made some time in the middle OF
May.
But the most important assurance M
Herriot Is taking with him back to
France Is the promise of the President
that America will join the other nations
in continuing some new instrument of
peace to give France the much needed
security without which the French dc
not want to disarm.
What form such new peace instru-
ment will take is uncertain, but 1t Is
believed the United States will join an
economic and financial blockade
against any aggressor nation.
League to Define Aggressor.
The aggressor will be defined BY the
League of Nations, to which the United
States will send an observer during the
debates. It is said in high quarters
that while America, agreeing to partici-
pate in such a consultation for the pur-
pose Of defining the aggressor. will at
the same time maintain its freedom OF
action In case it does not agree with the
decision of the League. But even such
limited participation of the United
States in the debates for the definition
of the aggressor nation is considered by
M Herriot as sufficient to allay France
fears Of being invaded by some Of her
neighbors. because America taking q
hand in the world political turmoil will
change the moral sanctions provided in
the Kellogg BRAND pact into actual
physical sanctions.
As result of the Roosevelt Macdonald
and Roosevelt-H erriot conversations,
America Is taking now a much more
definite and active role at the Geneva
disarmament parleyS. Heretofore the
American delegates confined their main
activities to trying to bring the con-
flicting nations to some kind Of an
agreement, by talking to their delegates
and pointing out the advantages they
may eventually derive from coming to
an understanding. Ambassador Davis
hand has been considerably strength
ened during the last 48 hours by his
knowledge that the United States Gov
eminent has something positive to offer
to the hesitant European powers and
that within the next few weeks the pow
ers desiring disarmament will form a
solid block against those which do not
want 1t, and that France with the new
assurances it has received here. would
not hesitate to accept constructive dis
armament proposition.
The work Of the economic experts Is
also coming to an end today. Their la
borS have not been conclusive and were
not expected to be.
There were a number of questions on
which the interested countries were far
apart. These questions were tabulated
with each delegation expressing clearly
its point Of view. Once this was done
they discussed the possible ways out to
reach an agreement at the London Eco
nomic Conference. While this may not
appear constructive, 1t is Of utmost i'm
portance
Conferences Handicapped.
The previous conferences have been
handicapped by a complete lack of
preparation. The delegates of various
nations and their experts met at Geneva
or in London, each delegation knowing
its own point of view and only vaguely
the point of view and the needs of the
other delegation. The chief delegates
met and found themselves In complete
disagreement because they had not
taken in consideration some particular
needs Of the other country. Then the
experts were summoned in haste and
ordered to study the question In q
hurry. The press generally got wind Of
merts were cabled or wired Immediately
tense nervouse tension were annoyed at
the stubbornness Of the other party.
The newspaper dispatches were gen.
orally confirmed by the political dele
gates and the conference had to work
under more or less poisoned atmOs-
phere. This happened at most impor-
tant conferences and was one OF the
main reasons why they never succeeded.
It has been admitted by all delegates
at the London Naval Conference that
had the details been worked out more
carefully that conference would have
been a success and would have brought
France and Italy into the treaty signed
in April. 1880, instead Of leaving the
two nations out, and thus weakening
greatly the effect Of the agreement.
It Is this situation which the nations
want to avoid today by coming to dis
cuss in Washington their different
points Of view on the intricate economic
problems. Every nation which has so
far sent its representatives and experts
to Washington has been able to find
out clearly the main points of d.
vergence with the United States and
with each other. They have not been
settled. but when the delegates meet
IN London the difficulties will not be
new to them and their experts would
have had already a contact with each
other. Then they will be able to
harmonic the various viewpoints in the
light of the needs, not of one or two
or three nations, but Of the go nations
which will be present there.