EUROPE TO-DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 May 1922, Page 5

EUROPE TO-DAY.

PROBLEM OF RECONSTRUCTION. NECESSITY TO HELP RUSSIA. IMPORTANT TASKS AT GENOA. The problem of Europe, whose economic and financial chaos* provides the souce of the world’s ills to-day, was the subject of an interesting conversation which a Daily News representative had yesterday with Professor W. E. Goode, who visited Russia as a special correspondent of the Manchester Guardian. Lt was in 1907 that Professor Goode was first sent to Russia by iris’ paper, and many missions to that country have followed—during the war, at the time of the revolution, and, more recently, during the terrible famine—and now he is enjoying a rest by a tour of Australia and New Zealand. Here he found an old school-fellow (Mr. H. Stonex, of Bell Block), and in the quiet surroundings of a typical New Zealand farm -Professor Goode is forgetting the honors of Red KUtjsia which he came to know too well.

Professor Goode had an interesting story to tell, and now, when the destiny of the European nations, and the very fate of the world, hang in the balance at Genoa, his observations are of particular importance. “There is going to be no economic stability in Europe until Russia is placed on her feet and firmly set on the road to reconstruction,” declared the professor, who emphasised that the key to the resumption of normal trade and finance conditions throughout the world was a new Russia.

Professor Goode went on to say that so much had been written about the terrible conditions of Rfissia —where famine and disease were eating the life out of the nation—that people were inclined tu forget that the whole of Europe was stricken. Conditions in Britain, he said, were steadily becoming worse, and the latest figures given by the British Minister of Labor (Dr. T. J. Macnamara)

sho.wed that from eight to ten million people were dependent for their existence on Government doles. It was not sufficient to say that so many million were unemployed —it was only the breadwinners who were counted, but they all had families dependent on them, and these families had to be kept by the State. In Central Europe there was Germany in a state of complete bankruptcy; while in Hungary and in Austria chaos reigned, and the conditions of Russia were repeated. In famine-stricken Russia the plight of her people was a tragedy unparalleled in the world’s history. THE TREND AT GENOA. What hope was there of stability in Europe with the great nations in. thia condition? asked the professor. {Sooner or later the problem had to be laced, and the Genoa Conference was the inevitable result. The V\ ashington Conference, he said, was all right as iar as it went, but it excluded Germany and Russia. The co-operation of these two nations was vital to the re-making ol Europe; hence thp gathering at Genoa. Professor Goode had some interesting observations to make on the situation at Genoa to-day, remarks which were particularly interesting in the light of the reported dissension between Britain ana France and the conclusion of an agreement between Russia and Germany. It was generally felt, he stated, that one of the first essentials to a new Europe was land disarmament, and he declared that France, in refusing to make any perceptible “cut” in this direction, had early barred the way to progress. 1 hen, before attacking the mam question of helping Russia, France had demanded that the question of debts and the restoration of property should be settled first, and this attitude, Professor Goode declared, was another and more serious obstruction. Professor Goode, after an intimate acquaintance with the leaders of Rnssia, has formed the opinion that there is a real desire on Russia’s part to meet her obligations, but a definite arrangement is impossible so long as Russia is handicapped by her present unstable condition. “Russia, ’ he said, “is quite prepared to go into the question of settlements, and will do her best to meet her obligations; but she wants the help of the nations first; she must recover before she can do anything. Germany la willing to help her, and consequently there is nothing surprising ill the HnasoGerin an treaty, which will enable German organisation and Russia's raw materials to combine for the benefit of both countries. Britain, too, is prepared to help Russia first and go into the question or debts afterwards, but France will not; henee the weakening of the Entente and the action of Britain moving towards the friendship of Russia. If France » isolated it will be her own fault.

HUNGER AND FAMINE. Professor Goode went on to point out that Russia was the biggest market in the world, and the trade of the other nations must have the Russian market. “Until we can get into the Russian market there will be no stability, and events at Genoa during the last few davs show that Britain realises she must put Russia right.” he added. Professor Goode admitted an admiration for Lenin, who. he said, had a clear-eyed vision of the reconstruction of Russia. Professor Goode repeated that, iroin long experience of Russia, before and after the revolution. he was convinced there would be no economic or financial stability for Europe until the Russian question was settled; not merely settled with a coalhammer, but in a reasonable way. He dealt with the history of the revolution, from its inception in 1917 to the establishment of the Bolshevik regime Ihe scone of government was so great that everythin! affecting the welfare of the people was given attention. The leaders were men of high educat.onal attainments, men who liad been driven out of Russia and bad worked hard m other countries meanwhile, perfeetin their ideas for carrying out a revolution. Ono of the ablest Ministers was M. Ichitcherin, who was representing the countrv at the Genoa Conference. His knowledge of European affairs was most ex‘e Spea e king of conditions in Russia Prto fessor Goode had much to tell of the sweeping destruction of pestilence and famine. “Russia lias been short of food since 1914,” he said, “and in addition to the blockage preventing imports going in, the country suffered two droughts 1 1020 and 1021. They may get a tillrd drought this year, and, if so, God Help them ” Professor Goode saidl it was no exaggeration to say that fifteen to [wenty millions of the population were starving, and millions were dying, drefollowing in the wake Sickness was in every poor home, and the plight of the children was appalling. The terrible enemy th. relief com-

mittees had to fight was the scourge of typhus and cholera, which raged throughout the district The Soviet Government had given £14,000.000 towards relief work, but the country’s doctors, nurses, and relief workers were absolutely exhausted, and it was to outside aid that Russia must now look.