EUROPE “IN WONDERLAND.”

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 11, 28 December 1923, Page 4

EUROPE “IN WONDERLAND.”

AMERICAN VIEW. Oi the European Situation. One of the bust informed and the strongest papers in the 1 .S.A.. the Saturday Post, which is edited by Mr. G. H. Lor.iinor. published the following interesting editorial on the European situation: — The visitor to Europe last summer found himself in the topsy-turvy world of Alice in Wonderland. The Mad Ratter was running its 'Hie American who wants tne truth about foreign affairs had better stay at home. There is one truth in England, another in France, a third ir Germany, and none in Russia. And these truths are all half-truths queer compounds of fear and hate. The earnest investigator, senator, congressman or businessman, is often only bewildered by what he sees, hears and is shown. He is misled by appearances and muddled by propaganda. In the end he comes home with a line set of prejudices instead df the sound first principles with which he started out. Aside from certain physical facts—and these physical facts show astonishing progress towards material recovery—the best view of Europe may be obtained from America. No 0110 from another comment, least of .all an American, can save Europe. Salvation for a nation, as for an individual, must come from within. Europe will save herself or she will not be saved; and her business men and peasants are saving Europe; will fully and finally save it when they get. commonsense co-opera-tion from the politicians. America can help, but only when the politicians realise the folly of keeping a continent divided against itself that -•hould be united. Then Europe will need little from us except the first •id nf private loans and credits.

Self-interest and solffcpreservation should unite the countries of Europe. Tf these two most powerful of human motives fail, how can the counsel vf America possibly prove effective? ■ Not through a League. of Nations, until Europe is willing to trust her :>wn pressing problems to it. Not through a cancellation of debts that would provide money to finance ambitious war-plane programmes and make now wars easy for the old war makers. Not i hrough conferences that dual with quarrels of the moment, without going to Rhe root: of Europe’s troubles. At present every nation hopes that i *' America goes into European affairs •-h<- will prove to be an ally who will tack up that nation in her demands; and an uncle who will write off the old debts with one hand and make new loans with the other. That America should cancel the war dsbts is the one subject on which practically ali Europeans, even while discussing repayment, are in agreement. That these debts must be paid is a subject on which all clear-thinking Americans arc in agreement. There can be no double standard of conduct in international finance. America could stand the loss of the money, but noi the loss of international good fuith and confidence that would inevitably follow.. Repudiation has made, and keeps,. Russia a commercial outcast among the nations. Against all this we find the people of Europe, the bourgeoisie and the peasants, going about their business of buying and selling, of ploughing and reaping. Already they have accomplished wonders of reconstruction. There is something pitiful about thc-ir struggle up from the depths when one reflects that all this patient, toil may go for naught because of the in competence of Europe's politicians. The people want peace; they hate war and the spirit, of aggression that brings it. Only the politicians and profiteers are still ghost-dancing around the burned-out embers of hate. All that is needed for the salvation of Europe to-day is leaders with peace and goodwill in their hearts with a reej desire for a united Europe; with a sincere appreciation of the fact that only through some sort of union can permanent peace and i prosperity be assured. For in the light, of history only a fool can believe that any one power can prosper long at the expense of its neighbour.s. Every nation that has temporarily profited by a course of ruthless and unintelligent selfishness; by playing «»ne nation against the other; by .seeking to dominate the Old World through the oppression of its neighbours, has in turn paid the bill in blood and blood-bought trade. These are Hie great simplicities of the centuries, the infallible lessons of history that European statesmen refuse to see in their grasping for the pennies of trade and power. A recognition of these facts is the rock on which America was founded, and on which she has builded her prosperity. There is not only strength but room and plenty for all in union. To-day the visitor to England finds a lenient attitude of mind towards Germany on the part, of a great many of its politicians and their followers. This kindly feeling would mark a distinct advance toward better things in Europe were it not inspired by the pious hope of big business with a restored Germany, and were it not offset by an increasing animosity towards France. But even in England there is a strong faction in rebellion against any attempt to let off Germany too easily. During the war British official propaganda was so clever, so thorough, that those who i( sold ” the world against Germany are finding* it difficult to undo their work. Lloyd George’s passionate demands for the head of the, Kaiser and untold billion- of German marks demands that kept him in power—are still remembered by many who shared his emotions of the hustings and by some who did not. One may feel the keenest sympathy for Great Britain and still think that her present attitude is shortsighted (Continued in Next Column.) j j

We believe that Germany should be forgiven, but the world cannot decently forgive certain of her debts. War must be made hard, not easy, for war makers, and they must bring* forth fi uits meet for repentance. Germany, forgiven and helped to her feet, must atone for the calamity that she brought on the world, or there is no justice in it. In the end England may find that she has been an unwitting* altruist, for Germany, once riil of her external debt, will prove to be her most serious competitor in foreign markets. Germany, with her tremendous plant expansion, has been waiting* only for the hobble of debt to be removed from her feet. The world does not want a Germany* crippled through hate; nor a Germany made strong through mawkish sentiment or mistaken self-inter-est; but a Germany that understands

she must pay the bill she has incurred. That is what justice and the future welfare of the nations demand. To-day a majority opinion holds that if she is not in a position to pay her bill, it is largely because of sabotage of the Gei man state al German hands. Germany, too,' so a victim of her too thorough wartime propaganda. For she persuaded a large part of the world that she was so much more clever, industrious and resourceful than any other nation that it is hard to swallow whole her new down-and-out propaganda. It would be interesting* to know, in addition to the concrete evidences of her come-back in plant extension?, shipping and experts, just what her invisible resources in foreign countries total. The French people have proved themselves as great in peace as they were heroic in war. Their ruined villages arc largely rebuilt. Their wheat fields are creeping steadily for'ward across the old wire entanglements and trenches. A few years more and they will have wiped out the zone rouge, except around Verdun and a few of the most desperately contested battlefields. They are clearly entitled to reparations for the damage done to them; to repayment of every franc expended fo.r reconstruction, but not to a centime for hate. France, too, must concede something for the common good of the Continent Europe marks time and waits for men in power big- enough to see that her future lies in co-operation, in union. Tile land is fat with food. Never have the harvests been more generous. New villages have risen on the ruins of France. Everywhere hut move esnecially in Germany, old plants have bjen expanded, new ones built. Only harmonious and clearsighted leadership is needed to speed them up. There are hate and jealousy between different peoples, but they are largely due to inspired propaganda Tolerance, forbearance and goodwill could he as easily taught through the governments’ agenci.es. For people would rather like than hate; and they will get together if they are not. kept apart. England's belief that no one power must dominate the Continent is sound- iust as sound as our belief that no one State must dominate the Union. But England herself must not trv to dominate the vest of Europe. ’ Her fundamental difficulty is over-population—a handicap not imposed on her by the war; hut she has young and loyal dominions across the :eas to whom these men can go and multiply her strength. A restored and united Continent means a restored England if she pulls with all its nations.

Amdrie.al/ willing to help, stands apart because she sees no way in which ho can help until the European nations show some disposition to get together, some acceptance of the truth that they are indissolubly hound together hv their selfish interests. Then talk of an international conference would! find a general response in America. But before such a conclusion can logically be reached over here sound premises for it must be laid down in Europe. _ Tn commerce, in science, in medicine, the world lias never been so rich in great leaders as it is to-day. But in super-leaders, the men who direct its political destinies, it has never been so poor. Not Caesars, not Napoleons, not Bismarks are needed, but Washingtons, Franklins and Lincolns—men of vision, tempered with commonsense, who see in peace and goodwill the greatest strength and glory of a nation.