THE H.B. TRIBUNE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1929 UNITED STATES OF EUROPE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 221, 5 September 1929, Page 4

THE H.B. TRIBUNE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1929 UNITED STATES OF EUROPE

It is, perhaps, not very likely that, in any bare-faced form, the suggestion, to constitute an international association such as will justify its being styled the “United States of Europe’’ will come up for discussion at the present sitting of the League of Nations Assembly. It is quite on the cards, however, that tho proposals made at international economic conferences for the abolition, or at least reduction, of tariff barriers will engage attention. This, indeed, would seem to be an almost essential preliminary to the con eration of the bigger scheme. Mr. Sisley Huddleston, a journalist of world-wide reputation and with an intimate personal knowledge of European affairs, dismisses at once the idea of any such association of States as that which constitutes tho United States of America. Anything as close as that is, of course, out of the question. But ho goes on to say there has been a sudden crystallization of feeling among European industrial nations that the economic prosperity of tho United States of America is due, in large part, to the extent of territory in which there are no tariff barriers. “Business mon begin to ask seriously whether the welfare of Europe does not lie in co-opera-tion. At present European countries are engaged in a tariff war that brings no advantage to any of them. Would they not all benefit by a general accord ?” Reference is made to an object lesson which has recently been given by the exhibition in business centres of a map of Europe on which are shown in relief not the mountain ranges but the tariff barriers. This provides a striking argument in the way of emphasising the hindrances which customs duties present to the interchange of products that goes to the ma king of trade and prosperity. It is, however, held to be unfortunate that the suggestion for the removal of those barriers should come at a time when it can scarcely be interpreted otherwise than as a measure of retaliation against tho United States of America. What Europe should aim at is economic unity built upon reason and not upon competition. “It is useless’ writes Mr. Huddelston, “to cease trade warfare between countries merely to begin trade warfare between continents. Europe’s purpose in putting its house in order should not bo the destruction of the American house. Rightly conceived, tho prosperity of one should not be at the expense of the prosperity of tho other. By al) means let us strive for European unity—political as well as economic—but let it be in tho fullest accord and sympathy with the United States of America.”

The English writer goes on to point out that tho leaders of the United States have expressly stated their hope of seeing the barriers to trade on the continent of Europe broken down, that it is, indeed, to the interest of America

that the European standard of living should be improved. “The nearer it approaches to the American standard of living, the better it will be for the whole world. America can help, and there is little doubt- that, if the problem is properly approached. America will help. There is need for cooperation between Europe and the United States.”

Some further colour is given to this statement by the manner in which the subject is approached by one of America’s leading newspapers. It says that, despite the difficulties, despite the resentment which appears behind the present movement, everybody in the United States of America will applaud any sincere efforts put-forth to give practical meaning to the nebulous expression of a United States of Europe. “Just- as the idea of outlawing wa.’ seemed fantastic until it became an accomplished fact, so the idea of reaching a certain understanding in Europe may prove less Utopian than believed, provided strict definitions are adopted. A federal government in a federal capital, with the subservience of nations to common authority, is at present out of the question, but there may indeed be closer accords in the European section of the League of Nations and the beginning of a customs union.” The American editor thus quoted seems, by the way, to regard the subject as almost sure of introduction by M. Briand, the French Prime Minister, in the League Assembly and, furthermore, gives assurance that there need bo no apprehension of offence, being taken at this in America.