Evening star., 1933-06-23

This observer risks a prophecy. 1t
is not based on any semblance Of off,
cial authority or inspiration. 1t be-
longs purely in the hunch category.
The prophecy is that before many
months are past President Roosevelt
will give the country an audacious lead
in the direction of debt revision. The
further guess is hazarded that with his
incompatible hold on public confidence
the President will so successfully ln1lu-
ence public opinion in favor OF the
policy he advocates that when his nego-
tiations with debtor nations are ready
for submission to Congress his recon-
mendation of corresponding agreements
will command the necessary support on
Capitol Hill. Much of this horoscope
is predicated on the assumption That
debtor nations now in default Will IN
the meantime step up to the captain S
desk and square accounts, at least TO
the extent that the British and Italians
have done by way of token" payments.
When F.. D. r. is ready to tackle the
debts along generous reVlslonary llneS
the country may expect to hear from
him over the radio, as Is his wont on
major occasions.
* X
Seeing that President Roosevelt Is
conferring with Col House at this
critical international juncture, 1t Is IN
teresting to recall what that sage coun-
selor had to say in print few rnonths
ago, while rejecting upon the foreign
policies of the new deal. In Foreign
Affairs for January Col House fore
shadowed that Mr.. Roosevelt would
proceed to the decisions necessary to
a final liquidation Of the war in the
spirit he imbibed as member OF
Woodrow Wilson'S official family lie,
with courage, common sense and
foresight Later on, in specific dis
cussion Of the war debts, Col House
declared that the American people,
emulating allied Europe in dlsposlng
of the reparations question once for
all. must be ready-aS practical busl-
ness men, for reasons of cold common
sense-to do what is necessary in order
to dispose finally of the war debts as
a political question"
OF all the eminent Democrats popu-
larly believed certain six months ago
to be members Of the Roosevelt admin
istration-men like Owen D. Young,
AL Smith, Newton D. Baker. John w.
that only one, Bernard M. Baruch, is
actually in the picture If this were
Europe instead of the United States.
the great Barney" would be known as
"a minister without portfolio" AS
things have shaped up, there is today
no other member of the Roosevelt offl-
cial household who approximates
Baruch's actual status in Washington
His authority and influence ramlfy into
every branch of national and interna-
tional affairs. On no one, without a
doubt, does President Roosevelt rely
more strongly for advice than on the
tall silver haired New Yorker VINO
made his reputation as chairman OF the
World War Industries Board. Two OF
Baruchs key men in that service are
now. respectively, at the head of the
nations industrial and agricultural re-
Covery administrationS-Gen Hugh s.
johnson and George NJ Peek. That
they will frequently look to their war
time chief for guidance in the cam
paign again depression may be taken
safely for granted.
Mr. Baruch's hand is seen in the dis
patch of Herbert Bayard SWopa, former
executive editor of the New York World
to Europe this week as the guide phi
losophsr and friend of Prof. Moley.
Swope and Baruch have been bosom
friends for many years The journalist
diplomat. who will presently assist in
sprinkling Oil upon the troubled waters
of the London Economic Conference,
thoroughly knows his way about Eu-
rope and has wide personal acquaint-
ance among present-day Old World
statesmen. He accompanied President
Wilson to the P-ris peace conference
as member of the distinguished Amer
ican press brigade that covered" post
war developments. He acted as chair
man of the newspaper delegation and
was a member of the conferences Com
mittee on Publicity. OF great personal
charm, and with fair for diplomacy,
Mr.. Swope Is expected by President