Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 167, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 July 1920 — Page 2

How Is It With Europe?

How far is Europe from financial and social bankruptcy ? A summary of facts gathered first hand by Henry P. Davisons

i« MBHMHMBOW far is Europe from financial | »* g f| and social bankruptcy?” is a | t 1 I question of vital importance to all | | the world. Herewith is a concrete g summary of facts of great value ■MUMaMBJ on this question, gathered at first I hand by Henry P. Davison. ConJ cerning these facts and the man who gathered them Rowland ■ Thomas in the New York Sunday I World makes this statement: At tills time Mr. H. P. Davison, SSffy?J partner in the linn of J. I*. MorP nn ' s<?ems more thoroughly qualifled than any other person in Amerjca to express an authoritative opinion on conditions in Europe. He has an extremely keen, clear mind. He is a man of the largest affairs, accustomed by many years of business experience to grasp the essential details of complex situations. And on top of his unusual personal qualifications as a trustworthy observer and reporter, he has just, through his position as head of an international organization, had put In his possession the latest and completest mass of Information obtainable anywhere. He is chairman of the board of governors and therefore ex-officio head of the League of Red Cross societies which comprises all the Red Cross societies in the world except those of the central powers, and has just returned from the first conference of this organization, held in Geneva. At this conference the European situation was the main object of consideration, and to give a basis for discussion and action, experts were brought in from the field all over Europe and their first-hand reports were received and examined. The result was the composite picture of post-war Europe in the winter and spring of 1920 which Mr. Davison holds in his mind. By fixed rule, Mr. Davison does not give interviews to individual representatives of the press, nor write signed statements for Individual papers. He has not broken his rule in this instance. This Is not an Interview. But when his unique position as a source of information was pressed on his attention, he granted the Sunday YY orld access to his data, and what follows may be taken as a substantially accurate and complete statement of the facts as he sees them. Its significance can therefore hardly be overemphasized. “The catastrophe,” wrote Mr. Balfour, chairman of the Council of the League of Nations, to the Red Cross conference at Geneva, "is of unexampled magnitude," and in the same communication referred to “the horrors with which we are faced,” and stated they had reached “appalling proportions." These are very strong expressions, coming from a personage of such standing. They indicate a recognition of disaster. Is there any hope of setting matters right? Can Europe “come back?” Or is she bankrupt? The present summary of known facts will be an a,ttempt to indicate an answer to that question. At the outset it is necessary to clarify the situation by making certain distinctions. Europe stretches over 3,800,000 square miles. Its people number 460,000,000, more than a quarter of the globe’s estimated population. Furthermore, at present Europe as a unit Is non-existent, if it ever existed. It has been split by the war into various groupings, in which conditions widely differ. The neutrals, unravaged Spain, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, with over 40,000,000 population, constitute one group. Defeated Germany and Austria form another. Russia is a third. The “Big Four” of the European allies— England, France Italy and Belgium—are another. And the less stabilized countries of the central and eastern regions are a fifth. Between these groups conditions vary greatly, and this must be kept in mind In considering whether Europe is solvent or bankrupt. About our principal allies in the west there is no question. They are strongly goihg concerns still, and, despite their own distress, are doing their best to pull their neighbors out of the Slough of Despond, The French peasant is working, and the French artisan, despite a sad need of raw. materials, has not lost his habit of industry and thrift. • The encouraging fact about France today Is that her people are fully alive to the seriousness of her problem and are going forward bravely to solve It Italy, too, despite her great shortage of raw material, is looking forward, not backward, led by one of the great men produced by the war, Mr. Nltti. He is a truly wise statesman, and under his leadership Italy can be relied on to do her part by herself and her neighbor/ Belgium, as might have been expected, Is strongly on the mend, and England is meeting her problems of reconstruction with quiet courage and sturdy common sense. She is doing each day’s work, and at the same time rendering all assistance her resources will permit to the countries on the continent. Belgium and France and Italy and England are asking no charity of the United States. Their peoples are as proud as we are—eager as we are to work out their own national destinies and carry on their own businesses. They seek only the opportunity to regain their economic strength. And these countries have a population of 125,000,000. Combining them with the 40,000,000 neutrals, it uppers that about a third of the people of Europe could not be referred to as bankrupt. Some of them are in serious difficulties, but they have plenty of hope left, as well.as energy, for the tasks of reconstruction. This distinction drawn, and it being understood that Germany, because her problems are so pypßar to herself, is left out of the discussion, It is not too much to say that in all the rest of Europe—excepting, possibly, Russia, about which Reports are conflicting—civilization has broken down. For something like 200,000,000 people, tfseese, bereavement and suffering are present tn practically every household, while food and

clothing are Insufficient to make life tolerable. Particularly in the broad belt lying between the Baltic and the Black seas there is appalling misery. This great area includes the new Baltic states, Poland, Czecho-Slovakia, Ukraine, Austria, Hungary, Roumania, Montenegro, Albania and Serbia, to say nothing of Russia eastward and Armenta to the south. In all that region there is almost complete paralysis of national life and industry. All that part of Europe has today a tremendous number of idle people. Many of them want to work. But there is a great shortage of raw materials with which to work, and the importexport situation seems all but hopeless. Such has been the output of paper money and so much greater is the need of imports than the possibility of exports under existing conditions that these countries have nothing, either money or goods, with which to purchase from outside what they need to sustain life itself, to say nothing of supplies for the revival of Industry. They totter on the brink of utter ruin, from which nothing but a helping hand can save them. . The depreciation in the currencies of some of these countries, as valued in dollars, is unbelievable. According to market quotations of April 10, it ran as follows: Austria .... 97.53% Hungary 97.48% Germany - 92.32% Greece 43.26% Roumania ...... . .„■ .. 91.81% Poland i ...97.98% Czecho-Slovakia :................92.78% In other words, if the peoples of these countries tried to buy materials and supplies in America at the present market values of their currencies, Austria would have to pay approximately 40 times the normal cost, Germany 13 times, Greece just double, Czecho-Slovakia 14 times and Poland 50. These figures are official and are the only index which can briefly, give any comprehension of the economic conditions inside these countries. Their currencies are depreciated because they have neither gold nor sufficient production with which to maintain their normal position with the United States or with their immediate neighbors. Until each, such country is able to produce sufficient to maintain Itself, either from within or by Importing in exchange for gold or goods, it cannot hope for normal conditions. If indeed it can hope to survive. There is nothing difficult of comprehension about the situation. Somewhere, somehow, some time, those countries must become possessed of food, clothing, raw materials and the means of transporting them, or they must perish. Economically and politically, they are crippled to a threatening complete paralysis, while at the same time the people are ravaged by destitution and disease. The inroads of the latter on the war-worn and undernourished population has reached the proportions which Mr. Balfour called “appalling.” Men, women and children are dying by thousands, and over vast once civilized areas there are neither medical appliances nor medical skill sufficient to cope with the sanitary crisis. In the Ukraine, winter of 1918-19, typhus and Influenza affected most of the population. In villages of 2.000 and 3,000 half the people would be ill of typhus-at the same time. Many physicians attended a territory 40 miles in diameter. Some who had 20,000 to 30.000 typhus patients could get no medical supplies whatsoever, and could give only oral encouragement to their sick. And this year the condition is even worse. Pauperism is becoming more and more Intense. Prices have advanced steadily. ■ In Austria, according to a report dated February 12, there were in Vienna rations for three weeks. People were apathetic, fatalistic and tired, and there was an epidemic of dancing. One dance was attended by 4,000 people, half of whom had had no dinners. Refusing to go home, they danced until exhausted. One hundred thousand school children were underfed and diseased as a result of food shortage, lack of fuel and inadequate' hospital facilities. Crime was Increasing ; among the child population, hunger sometimes driving little boys to attempts at murder. The

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

population of Vienna was literally famished. The general death rate had increased 46 per cent since 1913, and the death rate from tuberculosis 250 per cent. Many children of one year had not surpassed their weight at birth. The middle class, living on salaries, were selling their belongings to buy even the government ration. One meal for one person cost 6 kronen at the municipal kitchens, while the salary of a professor wag 77 kronen a month. An overcoat cost three months’ salary of a court justice, and a second-hand Renault automobile sold for an amount equal to 17 years salary of the chancellor. The following is taken from a communication from Sir William Goode, British director of relief: “All official and other reports which reach me give no hope of improvement in the situation in Central and Eastern Europe. The misery of the outlook in many parts, particularly in Austria, Poland and Armenia, is worse than ever. • * • The marshalled charity of the world, government and unofficial, will not alone heal the disease from which Europe is suffering. Increased production and the restoration of economic order out of political and economic chaos are the only solutions of the problem that now defies the ingenuity of those who face it.” Such, is the picture of conditions in the spring of this year of our Lord 1920 —according to the Information gathered by Mr. Davison during a two months’ stay overseas, where he joined in conference with representatives of 27 nations. How is that aid to be rendered? A week ago last night, at a dinner given to him at the Wal-dorf-Astoria hotel, Mr. Davison spoke at length of conditions as he had found them, and indicated what seemed to him theonly possible courses of remedial action. To quote from portions of his speech: “Any voluntary aid, to become effective, can only follow the provision of such essentials as food, clothes, and transportation, which must be given If the peoples are to live and be restored to a condition of self-support, and the need of which is so vast that it cannot be given by voluntary organizations, but must be supplied by governments. Upon assurance from the league of nations that food, clothing and transportation will be supplied by governments, the League of Red Cross societies shall at once formulate plans for the immediate extension of voluntary relief within the affected districts, appealing to the peoples of the world, through the Red Cross organizations, for doctors, nurses and other necessary personnel, medical supplies, diet foodstuffs, and such money as may be required. * * • “We are going to find out that we can no more escape the influence of the European situation of today than we were able to escape the war itself. You cannot have one-half of the world starving and the other half eating. We must help put Europe on its feet or we must participate in Europe’s misery. * •. * We find oarselves tht only country possessed of many of the supplies which Europe needs and which cannot be purchased or given in sufficient Volume on credit. As a nation we should at once arrange to place within the reach of those peoples that which they need to save them and start them on their way to recovery. • * * The situation has developed so far and so seriously that there is no possibility of its being met in any other way. • * • “I have always been an optimistic American, because of my supreme confidence in the ultimate judgment of the American public upon any question submitted to them. I believe that as soon as we realize the truth and effect of such statements as I have made, we will take steps worthy of the traditions of the American people. Therefore the responsibility upon everyone of us is to do whatever may be in our power to the end that the American people may have a dear understanding of what it all means, that they may the sooner dedare themselves. • • • Notuntll the prior and fundamental step Is taken of fur- ~ nishing by government action, the necessary elemental, food, clothing and transport, will we, the American. people, properly have established ourselves among the peoples of the world and.be in a position to leave a creditable heritage to those who are to come after.”

COLORS IN VOGUE

Chinese Shades Are Much in Evidence This Season. White, Floss Embroidery Is Conspicuous in Some of the Newest Evening Gowns. The question of colors In clothes is always a most important one, but one that is hard to write about, observes a correspondent in the Buffalo Express, for it is practically impossible to describe a color so that every one who reads about |t_will see it as it is. But prefty nearly every one knows the characteristic colors of Chinese embroidery—there Is a dark shade of blue and a light opaque shade, a green that is almost a jade, much old rose, light lemon yellow and a darker citron color. Often In embroidery representing flowers, however, a great range of shades is used, producing an effect that is almost realistic. But it is the shades used in the more conventional designs that are spoken of "as Chinese. And in the parlance of clothes nowadays one hears much of Chinese bluer Chinese green, Chinese rose, etc. It is these shades that are used in some of the embroidery produced in France. Quite different are the Egyptian colors —rather stoney, cold-looking shades with considerable brick red always predominating. In some of the newest evening gowns you see white floss embroidery on white silk background and this, though it may not have been borrowed from China, is not infrequently seen among the finest of Chinese embroideries. White is interestingly combined with colors in the embroidery of some of the new frocks. In three charming frocks recently exhibited I saw white embroidery on brown, a bright green on a light yellow and delft blue on white. It is not unusual to see in the' new blouses the use of opaque white beads embroidered on blouses of the light pastel shades. Gray seems to be coming in for much popularity. Navy blue with a light tracery of gray embroidery always looks distinctive. There is a new shade called in France tourterelle meaning turtle dove, that is much admired.’

FOR THE MISS OF SIX YEARS

Cool and delightfully summery-look-ing Is this charming little organdie bonnet. It is just the thing for the miss of six years.

Novel Veils.

The fancy mesh veil flashed off with an ostrich feather collar offers a most flattering style for* one with a slender throat.

Tight Garments Are Not Liked

Women Are Only Too Glad to Grasp More Sensible and Comfortable Styles. Women have balked for years at tight waists, tight high collars and very tight sleeves, and it is doubtful whether the severely fitted basque effects will ever again meet with general approval. The only really uncomfortable garment that has been accepted of late years is the very narrow skirt, and this Is gradually being moved back to normal. As a matter of fact, it is almost safe to say that thq very best dressed women never did wear them. In this season’s showing of garments, both frocks and suits, there are many skirts only a yard and a half wide, but few indeed are narrower, and the many plaited skirts worn prove conclusively that when Dame Fashion admits sensible and comfortable styles, women are only too glad to grasp them. Another new style note, not bizarre but charming. Is when making a threepiece suit to have lower skirt and coat of wool fabric, and blouse, or upper part, and lining of coat of matching Round Garters Again. One sees round garters in the lingerie departments again. They’ve always been there more or less, to be sure, but pushed into the obscurity of the background, tike a poor relation. Now they are being brought out and father featured. Why? Probably in anticipation that the corsetless erase

STRIKING SUIT FOR SPRING

Here is shown a winsome suit fashioned in novelty basket weave tricollette in tan. Velours in matching and silk tone serve effectively as an appropriate trimming.

VOGUE FOR FLOATING VEILS

Style Is in Keeping With Use of Quantities of Net and Laces in Dresses. With the use of quantities of net and lace in dresses the vogue for floating veils does not come as a surprise. This fashion is entirely in keeping with the very feminine touches that the sheer materials give to dress. Hats of the plainest and most severe type have no trimming other than a veil. The craze of the moment is the brown veil as a garniture for the black hat. The very coarse, highly glossed black braids aire used for a small round turban, over which is draped a tobacco-brown veil having a medallion, fitting over the crown of the hat and an embroidered border on four sides of the veil. Sometimes the veil is neatly tied in .place and the border forms a tihy shadowy edge for the turban. Again, it is allowed to hang In streaming corners. When the shape is of more individuality and height a tobacco-brown ribbon in satin cire is sometimes used in addition to the tobacco-brown embroidered veil.

For Juveniles.

Plain color materials are the season’s favorites for juveniles, but some very charming English prints and calicoes are to be found. These are usually trimmed simply in edgings and band of white organdie sometimes in narrow lace edgings. One .smart calico dress, recently seen, for a girl of ten or twelve years, showed a slightly longer than normal waistline, and a plain skirt attached by belt of selffabric, so there was no decided break in the line from neck to hem. The only trimming was a four-inch wide plaited frill of white organdie as a collar, and a similar finish for the elbow sleeves.

reported from Paris will reach here, though it has hardly done so yet However, most women rarely wear a corset with negligee things, when lounging round “chez moi.” So they always like to keep a smart pair or two of round garters on hand. They’re such coquettish, decorative, feminine trifles, too, to have about.

BOX COATS AND ETON SUITS

Garments Which Are Responsible for Bringing the Blouse Into New Prominence. Blouses have come into new prominence. The box coat and the Eton suit, both of which require a pretty blouse, have been largely responsible for the renewed interest in them. There is really little change irttfie form of blouses, but it is interesting to observe the materials employed and the methods of trimming. Voiles and taffetas are most in demand —voile being in the lead. The passing of filet lace is note worthy Some models trimmed with filet are selling, but no really smart blouse features it This good, substantial and practical lace was conspicuous as a garniture for the best. of blouses and neckwear for a long time: but fashion demands a change, so filet is supplanted by Irish and Valenciennes laces. Another reason for the supplanting of this favorite i« due to the fact that it is easily imitated. All its patterns have copied. ।