Evening star., 1933-04-21
Mr.. Macdonald in Washington.


Once again, after . lapse Of nearly
four years, Washington has the privilege
Of welcoming Prime Minister Mac
Donald. He comes to us, as before, to
lay the foundations Of Angio-American
agreement on world questions. In 1920,
when the British statesman was Pred-
dent Hoover's guest, naval limitation
was the subject Of their conversations.
This time, with President Roosevelt IS
host. the prime minister is here to dis
cuss ways and means for insuring the
success Of the world economic and
monetary conference soon to be con-
vened under his Craftsmanship In Lon
don. The National Capital is happy to
greet Mr.. Macdonald and his daugh-
ter, Miss Ishbel. who also pays US .
return visit, and wishes for the prime
minister . successful mission. In It's
satisfactory outcome the American peo-
pie, no less than their British cousins,
have the deepest interest.
BY accident or design-there are
cynics who are convinced 1t was obvi-
ousiy design on President Roosevelt's
part-Mr. MacDonald's arrival synchro-
nizes with the temporary abandonment
Of the gold standard by the United
States. The argument is heard that
we have thus shrewdly countered Great
Britain's desertion Of the gold standard
a year and q half ago and the conse-
quent SELF -debasement Of the currency,
to the trade advantage Of countries like
our own. which have remained, till
now. loyal to gold. There are even sug-
gestions that this weeks action at WASH
ington Is q declaration of currency
war" against nations which have been
lighting the dollar" In their own mar
kets. and that the net result. If not
avowed purpose. is to put in President
Roosevelt's hands q weapon with which
to drive hard American bargains with
Mr. Macdonald. M. Herriot ct al.
II Is very seriously to be doubted
that the President Of the United States
enters upon his momentous interna-
tional conversations, beginning with
MI. MacDonald's arrival, in any such
belligerent state Of mind. II that were
MS program the visits Of the overseas
statesmen would be far better unmade
That Mr. Roosevelt will manfully up-
hold the American position at every
turn Is foregone conclusion. Equally
certain Is IT that he holds trading
advantages, conferred by the United
States' status Is . creditor nation.
which can, and properly should be, ex-
plotted in our favor when the ineyi-
table moment for giving and taking
arrives. But those, here or abroad.
who envision President Roosevelt as re-
ceiving his European guests with
bludgeon. and keeping it conspicuously
In view while they are In his presence.
sorrowfully mistake the whole object of
the friendly exchanges which are about
to set in at the White House.
That object Is to pool the minds, the
intelligence, the good will and the
mutual interests of America and Eu-
rope in . herculean effort to prevent
world crisis from drifting irretrievably
into world disaster. The object IS to
explore all those fundamental ques-
tions the solution Of which will pave
the way out Of dislocation into equili-
brium. That means the examination
Of the problems of the tariff, gold, sil-
yer, exchange, price levels, commodity
values and host Of correlated and
complex subjects.
To approach that labyrinth Of ma
tional issues in anything but . spirit
Of honest desire to come to agreement
On them is to condemn the impending
great economic peace conference of
Washington to inglorious failure in ad-
vance. Prime Minister Macdonald may
rest assured that he is not hidden to
cross the White House threshold In any
atmosphere but one Of hopefulness on
Americas part that good, not evil, may
accrue from his presence on our soil.
It is realized In Washington that q
gulf exists between the minimum Amer
ican demand-on the question of the
war debt. for example-and the maxi
mum British offer. There is full con-
sciousness, here IN the politically charged
air of the Nations Capital, that Mr..
Macdonald has . home public and Par
Lament to consider, just Is the Presi-
dent Of the United States has. WASH
ington knows that the prime minister
is expected by his own people to give
Mr.. Roosevelt as good as he gets from
him In the way Of plain speaking.
Along that path lies the way to results
Another opportunity for inventive
genius is the frequent need Of q stock
ticker that can work at higher speed.
The Art of Speaking.
I'LL