Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-04-20
HITLER POSITION
| BRINGS OPTIMISM
Caution, However, Prevails
Here Over FeeIer for New
World Farley.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

The declaration of Hitler that he
would be willing to attend a confer
ence for economic and military dis
armament if President Roosevelt or
any other head Of an important gov
eminent were to summon such a con-
ference, has caused wave of optimism
among highranking officials and dip
lomats in Washington.
State Department officials and espe-
cially Secretary Cordell Hull are
pleased with Der Fuehrer's declaration
to the veteran British Laborite George
Lansbury. but for the time being are
exerting the utmost caution. They
consider Hitler's statement as healthy
sign, but it would be premature TO
think that this declaration of good
will will be followed shortly by some
sort OF conference which will dispose
of the worlds ills.
President Roosevelt, despite the def
mite hint from Hitler to take the lead
in world disarmament still is hesitant
ABOUT Summonlng such a conference.
The mere indication that Germany is
prepared to attend an international
parley is not sufficient, because the
political problems-fascism versus
communism, colonies, ratios in armies
navies and aviation-appear for the
time being still as insoluble as they
were a few months ago.
But while the principal antagonistlc
governments have not even discussed
unofficially the best means of ironing
out their difficulties, there are factors
which are outside the immediate con-
troll OF the governments which tend
to make an international conference
for economic and military disarma-
ment successful
In the political field. the rearma-
ment program Of Great Britain and
the boom in the price of raw mate
rails has given food for thought to
the authoritarian states. The British
rearmament program is less awe in
/ spring than the enormous advance in
| the price for raw materials necessary
| Tor Germanys and Italys ornaments.
| In the economic field, the disap-
pearance of the gold bloc has put an
| end to the economic dispute between
lnf1ationlst and non-infationist coun-
tries. Until Premier Blum took France
and the blod bloc off the gold stand
ard, prices were going up in the
| United States and in Great Britain
while they were going down in France
and the other gold standard countries.
/ Now they all fol1ou ono diroctior.
An increase in the cost of living in
every country in the world.
In the financial field, governments
have stimulated a business boom
either by the creation of work for the
unemployed or by re-armament. The
result of this industrial boom is that
| money is becoming more expensive
and investors are inclined TO place
their capital in industrial bonds and
shares rather than In government
securities
Despite the nationalist jingoistic
wind which is blowing throughout the
world, individuals in every country
begin to be restless when they realize
the enormously mounting national
debt. Political leaders realizing tho
consequences of this inevitable rest
lessness are worried and would well
come now any move which might lead
to some sort Of an international eco.
nomic understanding. And from an
economic understanding to the liqui.
dation OF the political problems the
step is not very great.