BENEVOLENT SIDESTEPPING

With the miasma of fear and hatred arising from the passions of war still tending to obscure the fundamental issues of reconstruction the appropriation of ten million dollars by the House of Representative for the relief of starving women and children in Germany comes as a decided surprise. It is at once an evidence if a renewed sanity in political outlook and an indication of the seriousness of the food problem in Germany. As an expression of a forgiving spirit and a desire to alleviate unnecessary; suffering the bill should call forth only favorable comment, which even the suspicion that the measure was in part designed for the very practical purpose of pleasing the American farmer and "consolidating the German vote" does not embitter. The overwhelming pon-party vote in its favor expresses the Business of Congressional sympathy.

In essence the appropriation is consistent with an American policy of international charity, of which the Near East Relief is but the most widely known expression. Even the impoverished population of the Hebrides turned to the United States for aid rather than to nearby England. But while no fault is to be found with such a split, it has apparently taken the place of a wise and constructive policy of international relations. The United States places itself in the anomalous position of shying at all suggestions of cooperation while holding itself ready to extend its own help to sufferers anywhere in the world. The real criticism to be made of the House bill is that it is indeed entirely too consistent with this charitably dodging of the real issues.

As a measure of immediate and temporary relief, the House Bill is another magnificent example of beneficence but no nation can long survive on charity. Of far greater permanent value to Germany and the rest of the world would be a definite settlement of the reparations problems. Constructive statesmanship rather than largesse is needed to bring about an economic readjustment of Europe; a real readjustment upon an equitable determination of the amount which Germany can actually pay. And by a concensus of expert opinion, which the Dawes report will undoubtedly reflect, that amount is very much less than the rather punitive sum fixed at Versailles.

But inasmuch as the governments which must adopt a sane policy of reconstruction rest upon poular approval, a very necessary step toward a solution of Europe's problems is the clearing away of war hatreds and vindictiveness. By example the House appropriation should help in a small degree to dispel the European atmosphere of mistrust. For the United States, the bill ought but mark a commendable preface to the real task of aiding Europe in a reparations settlement.