Evening star., 1919-09-20

CouESe. the Unlteu StAtce Is HeiH
Der. the people act as il they had
been told something entirely new.
Perhaps it would have been better II
the President had explained the mat
ter of voting and representation when
he first got back from Europe, as 1t
certainly was raised then and has
been gaining momentum in the public
mind ever since, but such extensive
publicity has just been given to the
Presidents argument that it is doubt
full If in the case Of any except those
who are 80 affected by the Irish ques-
tion that they don't want Great Brit
ain to have any votes at all. there Will
be much misunderstanding on this
point hereafter.
Interest of British Colonies.
Indeed. Mr. Wilson has felt himself
embarrassed. on the other hand, to
discuss Britains representation lest
II give the people of the several col
onies the impression that the United
states didn't want to have them rep
resented in the league. For instance,
Canada which has made more sacri
hces in human life in the late war
than did America, gets nothing ma
terial out of the war and her people
are plainly insistent that hereafter
they shall not be dragged into war by
without an opportunity for the people
OF Canada to express through their
representative verdict thereon.
Again. South Africa. to which the
United States extended an over
whelminE sympathy in the Boer war,
has shown itself through Gen. Smuts.
representative at the peace confer
ence. and Gen. Botha to be even fur
ther advanced in it's desires for world
peace than some of the statesmen Of
England.
Australia, too, whose soldiers fought
alongside the American troops and
gained an everlasting hold on the af
fections of the Pershing army. feels
the necessity for a voice in the big
partnership which is to determine
the affairs of the world; Indeed it
was when a tendency to show spirit
independent Of London appeared that
the statesmen of England yielded to
the demand of the self-governing
colonies for a part in settling the for
eign policy Of the empire, especially
when it might affect their lives and
property.
New Zealand felt the same way. To
be sure it is said that, based on his
experience at Paris. the President
thinks the British colonies are just
as apt to concur in the views of the
Of the mother country. This would
be especially true if ever the ques-
ton OF racial equality is introduced
by Japan.
Support for United States.
But Mr.. Wilson's argument that the
British colonies merely were to have
delegates pYent who can express
their views applies also to countries
more or less under the protection OF
the United States. Cuba. for instance,
would have vote or delegate in the
assembly. So would the Philippines
when independence is granted. So
would Panama. which is already an
independent state. America could as a
Central and South American states
whose interests are Identical with the
United States. so that even in the
matter of an expression of opinion in
the assembly the United States would
find allied with her all the countries
intrigue and which would be more
than likely to concur in the American
view, as they have in the past.
Kisses for Senator johnson.
The way Mr.. Wilson has handled
the Shantung question has also i'm
pressed Californians. At the big
meeting in Oakland there were occa-
sional Kisses for johnson. something
unneATO IN 0ul SOUie
Of the people in the crowd with whom
I talked afterward said this was not
to be construed as by any means
representative expression Of public
feeling toward Senator Johnson.
though they admitted that his argu
ments on the league had omitted to
tell all the facts about Shantung and
the question of Britain's six votes. or
that his prestige in the state might
eventually be affected.
: The President turns back eastward
on Sunday for week more Of
speechmaking before he arrives in
the National Capital. He touches
Reno. Salt Lake. Denver. Pueblo,
wichita. Little Rock, Oklahoma City.
Memphis and Louisville. Thus far he
feels satisfied with the trip. satisfied
that exposition Of the salient features
of the treaty has revived interest in
a question that had hitherto been re-
garded by the average man as entirely
matter for "the smart men in
Washington" to decide.