The World Reacts

No sooner had the last U. S. ballot been counted, than Great Britain led France and other Debtor Powers last week in a free-for-all drive by press stories and diplomatic notes toward present postponement and future cancellation of what Europe owes the U. S. (see p. 7). This drive, long prepared (even to the writing of the diplomatic notes) was not a reaction to the U. S. people's choice of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It was Europe's obvious move, in view of the fact that U. S. citizens have now balloted and cannot ballot presidentially again until 1936. By that time, in the opinion of realists on both sides of the Atlantic. Reparations & War Debts will be over the dam.

Specific World reactions last week to the Roosevelt victory and the Hoover defeat:

Britons took a strictly party view and Britain has three parties:

"Democracies are accustomed to punish their gods for their misfortunes," said the Conservative & undemocratic London Morning Post. "The retiring President . . . will be followed by another good American . . . who has received a preliminary warning by the fate of his predecessor."

"If Liberalism," cried the Liberal News Chronicle, "were to achieve a revival in America it would be a great thing not only for the United States but for the world.

Approximately ditto, Labor's Daily Herald.

Jubilant British distillers hoped to empty their warehouses "which are bursting with good Scotch." At the British Exchequer, officials kept mum as owls about "tariff bargaining" with President Roosevelt after next March. British gossip writers twittered that "Mrs. Roosevelt went to school in England and has many friends here."

Frenchmen's eyes popped as Mumm's Champagne shares, which stood at 85 (francs) on the Paris Bourse last spring, spurted from 180 to 226 francs when Wet Mr. Roosevelt definitely won.

On the morning after, however, Frenchmen began to take what they call their "logical" view. They still hoped to sell the U. S. billions of bottles of wine, brandy & liqueurs but they pondered Le Temps' reminder that "Mr. Hoover linked the question of debt adjustment to reparations; in disarmament he took important steps; and he favored on several occasions cooperative efforts between the United States and the League of Nations."

These three U. S. trends, all favorable to France, may "become stronger" under the new President, said Le Temps, "but Mr. Roosevelt, like Mr. Hoover will above all be President of the United States." Unfortunately, from the viewpoint of Le Temps, he will have to act "from the viewpoint of American interest."

Italians were "expectant," the hard-boiled Fascist Press adopting an attitude of wait & see.

Spaniards were "expectant" of tariff favors.

Germans were reminded by a majority of their Press that Democrat Roosevelt is of the same party as President Wilson, whom Germans blame for the Polish Corridor and other "infamies" of the Treaty of Versailles.

The Fatherland's whole Press recalled that it was Republican Hoover who "saved Germany" last year with his Moratorium and, as Berlin's famed Tageblatt said last veek, "Europe and especially Germany, cannot take note of Mr. Hoover's defeat without again expressing gratitude."

A German Government spokesman called the President-elect a "sympathetic gentleman" and a "first class man" who has "overcome his physical infirmity" but Nationalist newsorgans close to the Government were bearish.

Meanwhile German beer stocks boomed. Shares of Schultheiss, one of the world's largest breweries, bounded up eight marks to 66 1/2, followed by Oechsner and a joyous skyrocketing of Rhine Wine stocks.

Poles mingled in a jamboree of jubilation the names of Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt and Col. House, to whom grateful Warsawites have raised a towering statue (see cut). Twelve years ago, according to the Polish Foreign Office, Mr. Roosevelt wrote a magazine article in which "he vigorously supported Poland's claim for access to the Baltic Sea" (i.e. the Polish Corridor).

As the Hero of the Corridor to Poles last week, the President-elect was expected to do everything from letting down U. S. tariff bars in favor of Polish goods to recognizing the Soviet Government-- with which Poland has recently signed a friendly pact of nonaggression.

Russians who were successively misled into hailing President Harding, President Coolidge and especially President Hoover as likely to recognize their Government, hailed President-elect Roosevelt last week as probably better than Harding, Coolidge or Hoover but otherwise not much good.

Pravda said "It is an illusion to think that the change from one capitalist party to another will improve conditions."

Egyptians worried whether cotton-state Democrats will prevent the "new deal" from lowering U. S. tariffs on Egyptian cotton.

Turks wondered about Roosevelt recognition of Russia, their ally.

Siamese were "indifferent."

Chinese were "anxious" lest the Roosevelt Administration sanctify Japan's land grab by recognizing Manchukuo.

Japanese, who had Mrs. Woodrow Wilson in their midst last week, joyously hailed the end of the "Stimson Doctrine" (of non-recognition of land grabs by any nation). They exulted over the personal downfall of Statesman Stimson, whom millions of Japanese regard as their personal enemy.

In 1923, so Japanese said, Mr. Roosevelt wrote a magazine article, Shall We Trust Japan?, and they felt last week that he certainly will trust them.

Latin Americans jubilated from coast to coast, gave whole front pages to the "White Revolution" of U. S. citizens, praised them for not dyeing it with blood.

Less skeptical than Europeans, delighted Latin Americans seemed to expect prompt and sweeping tariff abatements as the first card in the new deal. Only President in the world actually to speak out on the U. S. election was Chile's Acting President Abraham Oyanedel. "The program of the Democrats," he cried, "is in exact alignment with Chilean aspirations! . . . A mutual reduction of tariff barriers is of transcendental importance."

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