EUROPE'S HOLIDAY MAKING.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3140, 23 October 1922, Page 2

EUROPE'S HOLIDAY MAKING.

HIDDEN' DIRE POSSIBILITIES. (By Sir Philip Gibbs.) in travelling about Europe as 1 am now doitifi. like so many English and Americans who arc holiday-making on the Continent, T am constantly asking myself whether there is any reality in the political and international crises which excite our newspapers. Havethey any direct bearing on the li;fe of the citizens? Is it all illusion, this international finance, fluctuation of exchanges, theoretical bankruptcy of this state or that? Did the breakdown of the London conference between Lloyd George and Poincare portend dark and sinister happenings in Europe, perhaps the ultimate crash of European civilisation, a.s some of lis are tempted to believe, or does it mean no more than temporary difference of opinion between two political ideas, which leaves the peoples of Europe neither better nor worse than before? On the surface one doesn't see many signs of distress, either of the spirit or in the material welfare of ordinary folk, this side of Austria. Poland, and Russia. The beach resorts of France and Belgium are crowded with people who spend money which is falling rapidly in exchange for English pounds and American dollars, there enjoying themselves light-heartedly. By doubling and trebling their charges the shopkeepers and hotel proprietors keep pace with the depreciation in the values of money. Paris is abominably dear. even to Americans, who exchange dollars for francs.

Brussels, which was notoriously cheap before the war. is no place for economy now. Everything costs at least twice as much a.s before the German invasion. English people get but little benefit from doubling the amount O'f Relgian money in return lor our own notes. Where is the trouble on either side if purchasing values remain about the same? Ft may be argued thatt only foreigners get off so lightly and that the inhabitants of the nation whose money is falling find prices soaring above their means. Even that does not seem a general rule as yet in France, Germany and Belgium except of the classes living on dividends and fixed incomes. Laborers, agricultural folk, factory hands. mechanics and clerks seem to get more of this paper money as it-; values drop and prices rise. They are not yet forced to the severe restrictions imported on the people of Austria and Bussia, where paper money has hardly any real meaning except in enormous quantities. France as a Goversmenl is utterly bankrupt without the German reparations. But the French peasant isn't bankrupt. He is very well to do. The French shopkeeper is not hankruipt. He is making excellent profits. Prosperity in Belgium, m which f am now staving, meets flic eye. Every little plot of land has its nourishing harvest. This industrious people seem to have recovered almost completely from the hideous experience of war. in intensive agriculture and its output ol small manufacture. Nationally it ik .-till groaning from war losses and burdens, but one does uoi see the shadow of ibis in the bright, busy streets ol Brussels nor in those little red rooted town- through which German armies marched eight years ago this very month. All over Europe orchestras are playin<r merrv tunes, m public gardens to crowds oi' pleasure seekers. Even the Russian opera is thronged. In bernianv despite the collapse ol the mark. there is beer drinking and laughter and no visible impression ol impending ruin. Perhaps, as some think. these paper debts, amounting to millions between one nation and another, mean nothing at all in life s realities, but are just the juggling ot international financiers playing games aiarithmetical make believe I here is some truth in that, but only until the reckoning comes That is a real illusion. Inexorably national bankruptcy will mean individual sufferings when the paper money l„,s to he redeemed m real values. In the sunshine of seaside resorts and the gsivetv of foreign capitals some ol us who are searching below the surface- of times get over our shiver oi apprehension.' Europe is now holiday making, listening to light music, careless of the threatening storm cloud, terribly like that Europe which a little more than eight years ago in the summer of 1914, until one day in August, was just as light-hearted and utterly incredulous of any warnings ol the world cracking beneath its feet. Human nature is beginning to recover from that awful shock, has almost forgotten its agony in its years of the war. If. is careless again. But ji is mv opinion and thai ol many other observers that Europe is in greater clanger to-day than in the first davs of August eight years ago. It is in' danger of chaos and decay worse in its effects than that ol the lorgotten war. One thing has happened which is undeniable. It may still be doubted by some people whether France and Germany arc' going into bankruptcy, but ii, is'certain that European statesmanship has declared its own bankruptcy. Poincare and Lloyd George and the other foreign Premiers in London separated without any further pretence at agreement even as far as any patchwork policy of compromise. It was an absolute breakdown. Between the Governments of France and England it was an absolute split. The meaning ol that happening is tragic. I cannot find it in my heart to blame Fnnice alone for this tragic decision. Poincare. in spite of a narrow obstinacy and a ruthless disregard ol economic laws, not caring whether Germans should collapse or not provided France, should be paid, had this unanswerable argument, that so long as the interallied debt- remain on the hooks France would be ruined if Germany escaped her penalties. Whv should the financial collajwe of France be preferable to that of Germany ! J Lloyd George did not i.nswer that' question. Personally I think it was right he should refuse to sentence Germany to economic death that would read also to the downfall of Europe and all kinds of anarchy and later assuredly a new war. But Germany could only he relieved if Fiance was assured of liancial relief and no offer came from Lloyd George on either of these two points. It was ultrly necessary in honor and common sense to satisfy [''ranee by a generosity equal or more than euual to that magnanimous treatment of Germany. The only wa\ out was to wash cut French indebtedness to England, in insure France of military aid in case ff a future war of aggression. That was an enormous sacrifice for England to make, almost ton great in view of what happened before, bill i( wa- worth while to save European civilisation. It is the only plan. Nothing che will save the situation, which is full of peril for the whole world. It is madnc• -.- to ignore the peril. This holidav making spirit, this summer sunshine. ibis apparent peace in Europe bide forces moving to tragic, terrible I lungs. If the entente eordiale is killed, and I here i- now a fierce passion rising in French hearts against England, there will he new activity among I he uul!-fari-ds. Airplanes and submarines in greater numbers to crowd the seas.

will be demanded by British politicians in order to catch up with the French lead. Italy and Belgium will be inspired to similar activities. Chemists will get busy with poison gas. Germany will,bide her time, looking to England tor support, to Russia for armaments. More dangerous than all that will be the resurgence of the revolutionary spirit. The Communists will make an alliance with all that pacifist sentiment which is strong in all countries, even in France; and using the cry "No more war!" which is the rallying motto of millions of people of innocent idealism, will rear up revolt against the Governments engaged in defensive and aggressive policies. The death of the entente cordiale will smash the- peace of Europe by liberating the old evils of national antagonism by arranging a new combination of hostile Cowers. There i- only one chance 1" escape from ail that. 1 still cling to it as a. last hope. It is the overthrow of our present statesmanship in Europe by new leaders appointed by the people, who will not suffer these things to happen, and who will rise against them will) indignation, and who will bring about a new reign of democratic progress for which millions hoped not long ago.