Evening star., 1938-09-30

e II D.~,s r
Roose velt aid
= ed by that venerable statesman, Secre-
tary Hull, has weathered moment Of
great anxiety with increased prestige
which even political opponents like
Herbert Hoover were not unwilling tt
concede to him because of his mastery
presentation of American public senti-
ment.
But the applause for the peace
makers is ephemeral as the difficult
task Of economic rehabilitation faces
the whole word. For, If armaments
can be reduced, what are the persons
previously employed on armament
building to do? And how shall the
period Of economic recuperation be
financed? And what effect will the
peace Of Munich have on economic
nationalism, which has been the chief
target of Mr.. Hulls attack almost
necessarily for the last five years?
Business Revival Looms.
A business revival such as the world
has not known for 20 years may be in
the offing. 1t can arise from funda-
mental change in the atmosphere OF
Europe from war to peace. The settle
ment of the Spanish problem. the pos
sible readjustment of the German CO.
lonial controversy, these and other
oSestions that have provided seeds of
unsettlement are now before the great
powers of Europe, where eyes have
been opened to the possibility that
physical force could be used to destroy
democracy and perhaps civilization
itself.
Unquestionably, the devastating
nature Of aerial attack, so vividly
and tragically demonstrated in the
bombing of innocents in the Far
East, must have exercised a restrain
ing hand on European rulers this
last week. War has become so ter
rible that the consequences of conflict
are not as easily accepted as they
were 20 years ago. The world, more
over, has seen clearly that war settles
nothing and that a challenge at last
has been hung to the intelligence Of
mankind to find ways to settle dis
putes without resort to arms.
The blot on the picture, of course,
as that . threat of force by Hitler
accomplished much for him, and q
counter threat by Britain and France
stayed his hand from going to ex-
tremes. But this mutual exhibition
OF armaments cannot but impress it
self As compelling some other means
to be devised whereby territorial squab-
bles can be adjusted.
New Responsibilities.
Certainly throughout the last few
weeks it can hardly be said that the
German people exhibited any hatred
for the British or French people
The war, If made, would have been
a consequence only of diploma tic
laundering by rulers Hence the
avoidance of war creates new re-
sponsibilities in that it proves the
value of round-table conference as
well as the importance of world wide
interchange of views in the full light
OF day and with the ears of peoples
everywhere listening to radios.
The great part played by COM
munication-the speed with which the
four rulers got together at Munich
by airplane. the rapidity with which
long distance telephones between the
various capitals kept all parties in
formed up to the minute, and finally
the instantaneous transmission Of
news to the press by radio and by
cable gave the world an opportunity
to move with the ruling statesmen Of
Europe and thus to encourage the
heroes Of the peace table in their
efforts to put reason above passion
or hate.
The effect on America of the criti-
cal period through which Europe just
passed cannot be appraised.
Perhaps it will demonstrate to the
President here that factionalism at
home can be healed by an era of
reason and mutual tolerance rather
than by constant conflict.
Reason Instead of Force.
Perhaps labor and capital will strive
to find new ways to employ reason
instead of force or threats OF force
ito settle economic disputes.
Perhaps, too. America will be en-
couraged to play larger part IN the
encouragement Of international trade
through willingness to finance out
of an abundance of credits the neces-
sary European purchases Of Ameri-
can goods and machinery which will
help to restore Europe to normalcy.
For, while America cannot and does
not care to contribute armies or navies,
there is always the chance for the
United States, with her abundant re-
sources, to help remove the causes OF
war by curing worldwide unemploy-
ment. And this in turn touches Amer
ica's policy of extending credits and
removing barriers. 1t would appear
that Secretary Hull's pleas for inter-
national cooperation have won
great victory and that his opportuni-
ties for helpfulness in the economic
wars of the world have been increased
by the events of a soul-stirring week.
Copyright, 1889