The Washington herald., 1918-08-07
Lord Reading Abroad.

The British Ambassador has arrived at London
at time when it is essential that the closest COOP
Grafton between the American and British govern
ments be attained.
Cooperation regarding Russia; regarding eco
nomic policies to be pursued after the war; regard
ing problems of shipping apportionment, of supply
and other corollary branches of the war; regarding
a concurrent policy with which to meet the coming
German peace drive-certain to come before the au-
tumn has merged into winter.
There is no real disagreement, of course, be-
tween the two governments on any of these ques-
tons, except possibly the Russian, upon which the
British government has been alleged to favor an
interventionist policy The events of the past
week, however, have disposed of that matter, for
the present at least The United States and Japan
are going to bolster up the Czecho-Slovaks with
small force at Vladivostok-a force sufficient to
do police duty at the big Pacific port and to fur
nish both moral and material support to the
Czechs in their attempt to guard Siberia from Boil
shevik disintegration. At Archangel American Ma
rines already have landed that there is evidently
complete agreement between the American, British
and French governments to joint action on the
Murman coast.
There is another matter which is weighing
heavily on the American mind, and doubtless is
given equal consideration in London. This is the
possibility of making Jugo-Slav revolt against
Austria aHungary vital, living thing. 1t has been
suggested that force OF BohemlanS, or OF CZecho-
Slovaks be transported from Siberia to the Italian
'front.' and that Jugo-Slavc forces, including prison.
ers captured by Italians from Austrian armies
that is, the Slavs who impressed into the
Hapsburg armies against their wl-also operate in
this sector. The purpose is to make it genuine
war of liberation for the Southern Slavs-to light
the flame of revolt in those provinces of Austria
where the Slav population is preponderant This
idea is not so chimercal as it seems. That flank
attack upon Germany will be successful, that ult-
mately she and her allies will be broken by the
sheer centrifugal forces of dsintegration existing
within their own borders, is the fixed idea held by
many competent observers.
The other questions before the two governments
present few difficulties. Herbert Hoover recently
has testified that the food crisis of France and
Britain is thing of the past British shipping, Of
course, has been drawn largely into the American
transport service; but probably it will be Withdrawn
to a certain extent during the fall, for the
that the American shipyards then will begin to
make their influence felt, and also for the
that there will be temporary lu in the transporta
ton of troops in the future.
An after-the-war economic policy probably will
not be the subject of discussion at this time Every
thing depends upon the type of Germany the
world will confront after the Economic re-
prisal it is certain, will be resorted to if the Ger
man people shown recalcitrant spirit when the
slaughter is over 1t will not be resorted to if Ger
many cleans house and enters the family of DEM
ocratic nations. That, at least is the attitude OF
the American government, and doubtless it is one
element of Lord Readings mission abroad to in
form his government to what. the American
policy will be in this matter.