Evening star., 1937-05-02
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

M awaiting with keen Interest
w the visit o. the youthful
Belgian premier. Paul van
Iceland, who is due In this country
some time early in June.
President Roosevelt and Secretary
Cordell Hull believe hopefully that con-
versations with the Belgian leader, who
has just obtained an overwhelming
victory over the Fascists in his country,
iceland has been commissioned by the
French and the British governments
to organize an economic conference.
He has just finished an exchange OF
views with DR.. Schacht, Hitler's
minister Of economics and president
OF the Reichsbank, and is being backed
In his efforts for world economic
reconstruction by the "Oslo group
the new coalition of the Nordic states,
Norway, Sweden, Denmark. Holland.
Finland and some OF the Baltic
countries-which recently has been
created under the leadership of
Sweden's Foreign Affairs Minister
the event OF another European
cataclysm. The representatives Of this
new political-economic coalition were
present in Brussels on April 13, when
DR.. Schacht arrived to have his pre-
liminary conversations with the Bel
gian government. Without much
publicity, a good deal of ground was
covered by the leaders Of the neutrals
and the representative Of Germany's
dictator.
Hull's Views Gain.
The European chancelleries grad
ually are veering to Secretary Cordel
Hull's point Of vieW-that political
antagonism could be solved by better
and more liberal economic understand :.
ing; that economic nationalism Is one
OF the principal causes OF the present
disturbed conditions OF the world.
They do not subscribe to the theory
that an economic understanding would
solve entirely the evils Of the world,
but believe that at economic conversa-
tions, which would not have the bla.e
OF publicity inevitable at political con-
ferences, much progress could be made
in the direction Of general political
agreement.
1t is now generally admitted that
one Of the principal reasons for the
practical failure of all important in
ternational conferences held since the
end Of the war is the publicity which
accompanies them. Leaders of nations
find themselves hamstrung by an ex-
cited public opinion in every country.
Representatives sent to Geneva, or to
any other conference, make lofty and
impressive declarations before their
departure. Then, when cold facts are
revealed in discussion, they are not in
a position to yield because public opin-
ion at home would not countenance
any yielding after the previous fiery
speeches This is the story OF prac-
tically every important gathering
Even dictators are compelled to follow
the trend of public thought worked up
by themselves at time when a jingoist
spirit was considered necessary; other
wise, their chances of debating might
be greatly reduced.
Quiet Work Advocated.
1t Is for this reason that Hull has
been advising the President to refrain
for the time being from any conspicu-
Gus immiXture in the worlds affairs
but work toward resettlement of the
world situation quietly and unobtru-
sively, through the Offices of neutral
nations such as Belgium The memory
Of the colossal flop of the gathering
OF premiers in Washington in the
Spring OF 1888 has helped Hull per-
suade.
The heavy burdens Of armament
are being felt more keenly every day in
Europe. The British taxpayer is pay
ing heavily. In addition, the cost ol
living has gone up in the United King
dom something like IL per cent since
1885. In France 1t has risen in the
last eight months by 19 per cent, anc
in every country in the world the stu.
alton is similar
That the social structure of States
Is being menaced by these crazy
economics is realized not only in
London, Paris and Washington, but