The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-11-08
SENATORS ON GUARD.

interests in every paragraph of the covenant Of the Lea
que of Nations than supplied by the maneuvers in the
Roumanan- Hungarian situation" writes Mr. Lawrence
Hills in a cable to the New York Sun from Paris, Mr..
Hills is careful and impartial observer whose articles
have won him high respect "Here European diplomacy
is seen in full action" he adds referring rumors cir
culaed by French newspapers atributng American au
thorshp of the supreme councils note to Roumania and
imputing motives of hostility and greed to the United
States in its dealings with Europe As matter of fact,
says Mr. Hills the note to Rohmania twas drawn up in
the French foreign office and the decision to send it was
approved by Foreign Minister Pichon in the council"
The incident is not important times go, but it is
indicative of the endless misunderstanding and quares
that are coming if the United States does not carefully
define the nature and scope of its participation in the
League of Nations For their purposes the Euro
pean are anxious to draw the United States
into European affairs The losers hope to enlist the
powerful support of the United States and the winners
hope to have America sanction their acquisitions Amer
lea Unanswered into the position of arber and umpire
on every hand whenever it's representatives vain or
creduous enough to be drawn in. Once in the United
| States is always reminded OF ltS mural opHsoVioi w
go through with the proposition whatever it may be,
and usually there financial economical assessment
against this country as an accompaniment of its mis-
taken altrusm.
The European governments are absolutely destitute Of
the spirit of atruism which the United States has cham
poned and which already has cost this nation so dearly
There is not in the record single act of voluntary re-
nuncaton on the part of any European nation in favor
of another the began The record stands COM
pete in every detail in its revelation of unyiedly and
nvariable seshness The kndest explanation of this
phenomenon is that the nations have been driven nearly
to death and are Of necessity looking out for their own
interests not because they heartess but because the
law of sefpreseration is operating Americans are free
to accept this explanation if they like but they should
not permit themselves be victmzed by the excessive
energy of Europe in taking of itself The history
of the peace conference shows that Europe as whole
will not hesitate drain the United States dry of its
wealth. influence and power if this country is foolish
enough to let Europe have its way
The real friend of Europe will ask always "How can
the United States best befriend the word?" If that
question be kept in mind senator who familiar with
the situation in Europe and with the true relationship
of America Europe will vote against reservations which
are aimed protect the United States in its ndepend
ence freedom Of will and action and vital interest while
allowing the nation participate in the international
arrangement of which so much has been predicted.
The United States help Europe best by remaining
United States in all its unfettered liberty and strength
1t can help Europe least by joining in European SQUAD
bles earning enemies by setting itself up arbiter
and subecng itself the double dealing of European
diplomacy When Americans attempt to match wits with
Europeans in European politics the result disastrous
to the Rankees, for they not familiar with the fine
points of the game They out of their element
sumng unauthorized functions, disappearing their
ountrymen, and unwarrantably interfering in contro
ycrsics which the United States has Away. avoided
The nature and extent Of america, participation in
he international league under special scrutiny
il the Senate, and about TO be defined. 1t is the
most important work that will be ao5el to the leg
islators concerned. They know their responsibility to
heir country and their counrymen. That responsibility
comes first before any responsibility to Europe, and
ahead of any promises pledges given impl,'l by
any American representative. high low The senators
have given their oath that they will support and defend
the Constitution against all enemies foreign and dome8
tic. That pledge controlling the vote of every senator
as his intelligence directs, will the United States
from the folly of unrestricted ntermeddlng in Euro
pcan affairs and from the that would surely follow
European intermedding in American misunderstanding
ton Post