SOME AMERICAN REACTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1928, Page 2

SOME AMERICAN REACTIONS

“'Despite its vague notions of the etual facts of our presidential tournament, Europe sees its own immediate fortunes, if not its ultimate fate, dependent upon .the outcome. Literally the statesmanship of the whole Continent is waiting upon the election returns. It Has no definite idea of what is going to happen, but it is sure that something must happen,” says Mr Frank H. Simonds. in the Vmerican Review of Reviews. “Europe hopes, if it does not cpiite believe, that the victory of Governor Smith would mean a definite change in the American attitude toward Europe. It believes that, with Democratic Ktantrol, it would ibe possible next year to open discussion of the final liquidation of the financial problems, both as they concern German reparations and European debts to the United States. By contrast it is fearful that the election of Hoover would insure preservation of the status quo—and this would moan that Europe would have either to liquidate the German financial and political problem without regard to the American debt question, or to resort to new postponements. Such postponements are welluigh impossible both because payments under the Dawes Ulan have become so heavy as to raise the transfer problem, and because German impatience over continued occupation must be laced, il the Locarno ooncy of reconciliation and co-operation is ro persist. Europe is, itself, all ready to go ahead with the remaining major iol). But it cannot move until it knows what the United States is going to do. Moreover —and this is not minimising—-it is desperately afraid lest it should do something which would irritate the party which may turn out to be the victor.”