Evening star., 1941-08-29
Sees Reconstruction
Worlds Great Need
ExiIed Scholars Latest Book
Nominutes America for Task
Of Universal Leadership
BIZ Blair BolleS.

Of Universal Leadership
By Blair BoleS.
The Reconstruction of Europe,
Tallyrand and the Congress of Vi
emma, 1814-1815. BY Guglielmo Fer
rero New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons.
Now that the United States seems
about to plunge into the affairs of
Europe, contributing not alone to the
pursuit of the war, but as well, appar-
entity to the search for secret of peace,
1t is essential that we understand what
makes for peace and what for war in
the continent across the Atlantic, strange
to us because so different from our con-
tinent. 1t is not enough to read the
history of Europe; 1t is necessary to sift
the history of Europe, to find in the past
history of Europe illumination for Eu-
ropes present and for Europe's future
and, above all, for the American role in
arranging Europes future. DR.. Ferrero
comes forward at the critical hour with
an English translation Of his volume on
the close of Napoleon's era, lighting bril-
liantly the path the United States could
tread if the Nation supports by action
the decisions reached between President
Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill
in their meeting on the sea.
The work of DR.. Ferrero is less a
history of the Congress of Vienna, which
drew up the framework for an age of
peace in Europe, than a commentary on
the meaning of Vienna for 194l. No
matter how intense are present con-
ficts, the awful question of what is to
come hangs heavy.
DR.. Ferrero wonders whether the con-
sequence of the war now going on will
be a great reconstruction which will
save us all, as in 1914" (when Napoleon
had been sent to Elba), or "an endless
succession of useless wars and revolu-
tions, endless because no means will be
found to end them, as in the Roman
Empire after the Sd century, DR.
Ferrero finds the United States inti-
| mately associated with the business of
answering this overpowering question:
as in a special preface for America he
expresses doubt that Europe can save
herself
1T appears that the moment is at
hand when the order of influences may
be changed and the United States be
called upon to exert a decisive political
influence" he writes. meaning influence
20 L.
his opinion, for the United States to
guide Europe along the paths which are
for us the only familiar paths. His bril-
liant idea is that our mission Is not to
preserve the past of Europe, but to show
Europe how to dwell in the political new
world, where states and societies mod
eled on old foundations no longer can
| consider themselves secure.
Europe today" he says, lis faced with
the same problem which the United
States solved century and a half ago,
that OF organizing state and society
that can exist and develop without kings,
emperors, princes or mobiles.
The obstacles are tremendous because
behind Europe stretch ten centuries dur
Ing which the monarchy and the aristoc-
racy were the two sacred pillars of
| social order. So long and so great
past cannot be forgotten in 80 years.
Every revolutionary government in
contemporary Europe. has come into
power. like that of Napoleon, during the
following transition period; between
monarchy, which is no longer possible
because the conditions which were its
raison detre and its strength are no
longer in existence, and democracy,
which is not yet possible because the
conditions required to make it function
are not yet in existence.
This is a terrible transition period.
in which the most civilized peoples of
Europe lose their bearings, become un-
able to find way out and allow them
selves to be dragged into revolutionary
adventures.
IF the United States will understand
the problem and make an effort to help
the great powers in Europe rediscover
the path of order and peace, she will
render a tremendous service to herself
and to the world"
The words that DR.. Ferrero uses in
directing us toward what he considers
our responsibilities make up the firmest
message which has reached us from
abroad. The basis of peace, in his esti-
nation, must be program for insuring
international order-which is a doctrine
propounded time and again by Roosevelt
and Hull-and the elimination of revo-
lutionary governments. the worst ex-
amples of which today are Hitler's in
Germany and Mussolinis in Italy. DR.
Ferrero himself is an Italian in exile in
Switzerland because of his anti-Fascist
views. He teaches contemporary history
at the University of Geneva.
Recalling one of the cardinal prin-
ciples in the eight points of the Roose-
velt-Churchill declaration, Dr. Ferrero
writes that, Europe can only be put in
order by restoring legitimate govern
mentS" to the countries over which the
revolutions of Fascism and Bolshevism
have swept, whether by coups d'etats at
home or by invasion from abroad. With
such view in mind the leaders at tn,
Congress of Vienna, Talleyrand, Meter
mich, Alexander acted.
In the way of reaching formula for
the preservation of order stands the
| troubling problem whether those who