Evening star., 1934-04-10
HOPES SCRUMBL|NG,
ST|MSON ASSERTS
Former Secretary Fears
Postwar Political Set.
up in Europe.
BY the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
PRINCETON. N. j., April TO-
Henry L. stimson. Secretary of State
in the cabinet Of President Hoover,
sees hopes crurnbled to ashes in our
hands," is years after our men re-
turned victorious from the great war.
Stimson. delivering the first Of q
series of lectures on Democracy and
Nationalism in Europe" outlined polit-
ical growth Of the world and said,
Fifteen years ago we were flushed
with the enthusiasm Of success. We
had been called out to save the
world. -
AFTER the great victory" he con-
ttnued, 1T seemed as II 1t would be q
comparatively easy matter to make
secure these objects for which we had
fought. Now, is years afterward.
these hopes seem to have crumbled
into ashes in our hands. The miseries
Of an unparalleled economic depres-
sion have enveloped the earth. In
stead Of peace, we see violence all
around US. Instead of law and stabil-
ity. revolution and change have swept
over most Of the nations"
Cites European Changes.
Tracing the long evolution in ma
tionality which began in Europe in
the medieval ages, Mr.. Stimson de-
clared the development in popular
government had finally at the close
OF the great war in Europe produced
a number Of independent nation
states In place Of the four great auto
cratic empires of Germany, Austro-
Hungary, Russia and Turkey.
"The result of the war and the VIC
tory of the Western allies with the
aid Of America" he continued, was
to tear the lid of this bubbling pot
Of suppressed nationalism and to
realize the long-sought ambition Of a
number Of new nations. The long
evolution in nationality in Europe,
which had begun with the decline Of
the international political authority
Of the papacy; which had at first
represented the strivings Of the COM
mon man to better the conditions Of
himself and his group; which had
later merged into the battle for pop
ular government as well as self-de-
termination OF government, had
finally been successfully accomplished.
Each change was to make the
governments more responsible to the
people," the speaker said, land each
nation was then composed of a popu-
lation better united in language, race
and culture than formerly. Finally
the fact that in Europe as a whole
the group of nations was better bal
anced in size than before the war,
tended to check and prevent ex-
tremes in domination by the large
powers over the small-the giants
over the pygmies."
Need to Live Together.
"There was no idea of going
further and erecting upon these
foundations in Europe superstruc-
ture IN the shape Of supersover-
eighty. None of these nations wanted
that. What they needed was simply
to learn to live together in the close
confines Of Europe without tearing
each other to pieces in needless wars,
arising out of unsolved quarrels. The
only political internationahsm that
they needed was to learn interna-
tional good behavior in community
made up of national states.
Therefore" Col. Stimson went on
If you are inclined to believe with
me that these nation states at the
close of the great war had reached
a definite point Of success in a long
struggle in which for decades and
centuries they had been very grad
ually developing the elemental rights
| of individual freedom as well as ma
tianalistic government; If you art
also inclined to agree that in this
process there had also been developed
a continental situation in Europe
which was less likely than before Il
be permanently unbalanced by ths
dynastic ambitions or desires of few
| great powers and one in which th'
main group of smaller states woule
have a larger influence than the!
possessed before.
IF you agree with me In thes'
matters" concluded the speaker, 81.
think you will also concur with mi
that their position and that Of Europ,
was more likely to be permanent thar
If it had been mere product o
chance and not of evolution. thinl
you will agree with me that there i
q greater presumption Of their event
ual success over temporary diflcultie
than if they did not have behind then
this momentum"