Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-07-14
We Should be Represented
CFrom the New York Tribune)

Late this month there is to be held
conference at which will be repre-.
scented all the great powers formally
allied against Germany. Originally
this conference was announced to be
Tor the purpose OF discussing Balkan
questions. Subsequently It was re-
ported that the question OF Turkey in
Asia was 10 be dealt with. and we
now have the announcement from
Paris that there will be a general dis
cussion OF all matters concerning the
war. Il seems TO The Tribur.a that
the United States should be repre.
scented nc this conference and that
a failure now TO take the position
which our contributions 20 the Allied
cause. made and promised. entitle Us
TO will be fraught with very grave
consequences hereafter
lt is a matter Of common knowledge
that, so far from Directing to the
presence Of the United States. the
governments of England and France,
and probably OF Italy. would welcome
the sending OF an American represen-
tative. 10 is a matter Of common
knowledge that there is n perfect re-
cognition In Europe OF the right OF
the United States TO take place in
Allied councils and TO have q voice in
Allied policies. u is not because Of
the objection of tho nations which
are lighting Germany. but because Of
a deliberate policy adopted by our
own government, that there is al pros.
poet That we shall not be represented
In the new conference
There Is no profit In critioising the
neglecr IN the past 10 adopt a definite
foreign policy In tho matter OF this
war II is easy TO understand why an
Administration should naturally pre-
serve TO the last adhesion 10 tho old
ost OF American doctrines-that OF
avoiding entangling alliances. II Is
not 70 critlciso the past. but merely
TO discuss the future and urge that
the new opportunity be seized. that
cussion
Actually, VIC shall be bound by the
decisions reached by the proposed AL
lied oonteretce. So far from avoiding
responsibility for our participation In
the policies adopted at this confer
once, the United States. il It Is not
represented, will actually accept the
dictum OF the conference, however
unsatisfactory Il may be IN certain
details and however unwlse certain
or these policies may seem TO the
American people.
AZ the present time the United
States, with reference TO the nationa
IN Europe which are fighting Ger
many is precisely In the position al
n man who is advancing large neces-
sary supplies OF fresh capital 10 a
corporation and at the same time re
iusing TO have any part in the admin.
lstntion OF the business or any voice
In the direction OF tho policies nv
which the business Is to be conducted.
The net result is that rhe man IN this
case is completely bound by the ac-
ton OF those who had participated In
tho making OF the policies. and not
that he escapes all responsibility for
these policies.
Let us he perfectly clear IN our
minds that we have entered this war
Tor certain definite purposes and with
certain ideas and ideals In view. II
e our business not merely 10 maintain
these ideas and ideals i'm tho face of
Germany and on the battlefield. II n
equally our duty and our obligation
to stand for these ideas and these
ideals I'm tho association of nations
which are fighting Germany. We shall
actually do harm 20 the whole Allied
cause II we even In a small degree
decline 20 recognize our responsible
ties and fail 10 make our voice and
our views heard In Allied conferences.
In the next Allied conference Rus.
sia Will be represented. and nothing
is moro sure than that there will be
a demand on Russias part for an en-
tire revision Of Allied purposes in
the war so far as these purposes con-
Germ territorial acknowledgements and
commercial advantage resulting from
the defeat OF Germany As The Tri.
hume has already pointed out, Russia
has adopted a policy for herself en-
tirely identical with that which the
United States had already adopted
before the Russian Revolution, when
Il entered tho war The sole differ
ence between Russia and the United
States lies IN the fact that Russia
demands right, as an equal partner
in the alliance, to have her views
accepted while we have made no
suggestion whatever beyond our orig
inal self-denying declaration.