The Evening Star TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1924. WORLD PROBLEMS.

Evening Star, Issue 18716, 19 August 1924, Page 4

The Evening Star TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1924. WORLD PROBLEMS.

A good beginning has been made by the London Conference in the task of rebuilding the war-shattered economic edifice of Europe. None knows bettor, however, than Mr MacDonald, the hero of the conference, how much remains to be done. It was only a sod-turning, not a final ceremony, which calls now for jubilations. Setting aside the risk that the sod itself may he washed away by floods from the Rhine or the Seine before any lasting foundations can be raised upon it, foundations themselves are only a first requirement, The British Prime Minister, albeit a visionary, is too wise a man—too hardheaded a Scotsman, it might be said—to be unduly elated by his success. He sees the goal of European peace and security, but he sees also that more than one river, and some rivers that will have trying currents, must be crossed before it can be reached. In his speech to the international delegates in London he enumerated four' of them. They are the vexed issues of Interallied debts, disarmament, the position and authority of the League of Nations, and finally economic problems which he expects to arise just as soon as Central Europe is on its feet and the big industrial combinations begin to operate. Mr MacDonald is under no illusions as to the difficulties which those rivers must present. But if it is the “ first step that counts,” heart for meeting them can be taken from the success of the London Conference, which looms largest as an achievement when it is contrasted with the failure of so many similar gatherings in the past. The nest conference, it has been forecasted, will be required to deal with the question of Allied debts. If the Allies can agree upon that subject after all their previous disagreements there will be real hope for the future. French and British views in regard to it, at least in practice, have been very much at variance up to this stage, and one influence will be missing for the facilitating of a general agreement which must have been invaluable at the Reparations Conference. America takes no interest, or at least no general interest, in this discussion. The whole extent to which she is concerned with it is that she knows what is due to her, and expects to receive it without the least abatement. Her political parties may ho expected to preserve that attitude, at least until the Presidential election is over. For the European countries the question of indebtedness is inevitably bound up with that of reparations, and no settlement of one matter can be regarded as complete till it includes settlement of the other. The first value of reparations to the debtor countries will bo, or should be, for the payment of debts. Disarmament, in more than a relative sense, Mr MacDonald is not likely to achieve. The Council of the League of Nations learned the obstacles to that requirement when its consideration was given to the problem a few months ago. The Council desired that an international conference should he called to discuss the extension of the Washington Naval Agreements to the nations not represented at Washington in 1921-22. A conference of experts, all of them admirals, was convened in Rome to prepare an agenda for this convention, but the admirals differed so much among themselves that no programme could bo based on their recommendations. The Council had no option but to give up its idea of a conference, for the time being at least, and refer the whole matter to the League’s Assembly, to bo considered at its annual meeting next month. It has been noted that “ the Washington principle, which was to stereotype on a lower scale the proportions between different fleets existing at a given moment, finds small favor with most States. On the other hand, the attempt to base naval or any other forces on a nation’s needs, or its conception of its needs, opens the way to interminable argument.” The League of Nations may be able yet to bring some wholesome influence to bear which will persuade its members that it will be better for them to reduce their armaments in a common proportion than to groan beneath what is for many of them in present circumstances almost an intolerable burden, as well as a danger to the world’s peace. But 'their distrust of one another will be a powerful obstacle, and the Geneva body will be unlikely to succeed in that object till all nations are included in its membership. The League of Nations makes the best promise that has yet been evolved for a new companionship of nations, and Mr MacDonald and M. Herriot are alike enthusiasts for that institution. It was their proposal that the determination of drastic default by Germany in executing its obligations under the Dawes scheme should be entrusted to the League's Financial Committee. The plan was not adopted in the agreement which has been reached, but that was not the fault of these two Prime Ministers. One of the best signs of the times is the steady growth of respect for the League and disposition to make use of it. Even Signor Mussolini has to recognise its importance. Speaking in the Italian Chamber a few weeks ago he declared: “I desire the League to become nearer and nearer to perfection. The League lias to-day the gravest problems to settle, including the financial reconstruction of Austria and Hungary. Decidedly wo must remain in the League.” Air MacDonald, on May Day, expressed his “ fervent hope ” that “ by next May Day the League of Nations may become an all-embracing parliament of the peoples,” and M. Herriot has spoken to like effect. Both Premiers some time ago officially announced their intention to attend some portion of its Assembly meetings to be held next month, if they were still in office. That will be a new honor for the League to receive, which will add no small distinction to the fifth Assembly.