Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-05-16


4 and Paris to counterbalance
the Rome-Berlin political axis.
Norman H. Davis, President Roose.
Velt's trusted adviser on international
affairs. has just returned from London
full Of enthusiasm. He has succeeded
IN putting through the first inter.
national pact in many years-ar
agreement to limit the production
Of sugar.
The implication which the inter.
national optimists want to read ir
that significant document is tina,
henceforth the road is open for bigger
and better economic agreements which
eventually will lead to political un-
Outstanding that may solve current
international problems.
But in London Mr.. Davis talked Of
other matters than the limitation Of
sugar production He had long hours
with the future British premier, Neville
Chamberlain: pleasant rounds of gol1
with Anthony Eden in which both
hit number of international balls
and discussed how clubs other
than those used in golf might be
swung in Europe in the course OF the
next few months; and he listened to
the persuasive whispers Of Ambas-
sador Corbin of France.
AS result OF those conversations
Mr.. Davis reports to the President
contain valuable enlightenment on the
European scene. There is persistent
danger of war in Europe despite the
1,,1l ,,ol, bo
United States alone can solve the war
problem Of Europe by throwing her
tremendous prestige and wealth on
the side Of the so-called European
democracies Since there is a distinct
feeling against any political entangle-
.ments among the people Of the United
States, comprehensive economic
agreement with Great Britain would
serve as a warning to the authori-
tartan states that they had better not
try to disturb whatever peace there
Is left in Europe today. What may
appear to the man in the street as an
innocent economic arrangement to
facilitate trade between this country,
Great Britain and France, will be
clearly understood by Hitler and
Mussolini. They realize that there is
only a short step between economic
and political cooperation. The neu-
things to come.
Visit of Van iceland.
Premier van iceland of Belgium is
expected to visit Washington around
the middle Of June. He, too, is
coming here to sound out the Presi-
dent about an international economic
conference which might set in motion
once more the wheels of international
exchanges Of commodities and i.
good will. Van Iceland has had many
conferences with the British Secretary
Of State, Anthony Eden, and with
Blum. won Delbos and Daladier of
the French cabinet. He has talked
to DR.. Scha chit and is the father of the
new group Of future neutrals-the
northern bloc composed of Belgium,
Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Holland
and Finland For all intent and pur-
pose, Van iceland today represents
strictly neutral country, since Belgium
has officially freed herself of the
shackles of military alliance with
France. But Van iceland, who has
just emerged victorious from a fight
against the Belgian fascists, has no
tender feeling for Germany and Italy.
In his heart, he fears dictatorship as
much as do Blum and Chamberlain
The European democracies are
. following the lead Of the authoritarian
states. Italy and Germany have al
around which they expect the other
European states to revolve. The
German-Italian agreement covers
Political, economic and financial
assistance.
There is no doubt that the Central
European group, Germany and Italy,
with their satellites. Hungary and
Austria, are financially better pre-
pared for war than the democracies.
But the economic element is destined
to play in the next imbroglio a far
more important role than it did in the
last war. This fact is being exploited
by the German leaders in telling their
people that since the collapse Of the
ring of steel which France built
around Germany, an economic ring,
which might prove even more perni-
cious, Is being organized against the
Reich. And the German people have
good reason to believe this.
Col. Thomas, heat of the economic
warfare bureau in the German war
department, spoke on this subject on
March 6, showing to his listeners
officers and high government officials
that the economic blockade of
Germany in the last war probably
was more effective in defeating the
Kaiser than was the military power
, of the allies. Thomas said: THE
World War was for us a severe and
instructive lesson. Over and above
the men who fell on the field of
honor, We lost 100000 men because
) they could not get the proper food.
We were compelled to abandon Ger
tain important military operations
important from the strategic point of
vieW-and delay others, as in the
: case Of Verdun, in order to go into
Rumania or the Ukraine to obtain,
war because we did not realize the
Importance OF raw materials; because
we overestimated our own resources
and underestimate those Of our
enemies. The problems of the war are
no longer entirely tactical or strategic;
they are industrial and economic"
Resigned to Inevitable.
The statements Of many observers
recently returned from Europe, that
!, European people don't want war, are
undoubtedly correct; yet, it is equally
true that the people of Europe may
not want war, but there has not been
time since 1914 when people have
been more resigned to the inevitability
of another conflict.
It is for this reason that French and
British diplomats in Washington and
the heads of these governments
abroad are doing their utmost to