The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-12-01
PERSISTENT INTERNATIONALISTS

n PRESIDENT WILSON has accepted the invitation of the league of
nations to Tct as mediator in the Armenian situation. Unable to
= bring about acceptance of a mandate he accepts the extremely diff
.fcult task of mediation in a situation fraught with gravest comphca-
does not involve tile nation in the task Of enforcing determinations
that may be reached. Unable to assume a national responsibility the
not to admire his courage and also his PERSISTENCE, however we may
regard his Judgment. The solemn referendum which an ovcrwhelm-
ing majority of Americans regarded as settling our participation IN
European and Asiatie tanges, seems only to have confirmed our lead
ing internationaists in their determination TO have MS participate, re-
gardleSs Of our decision in the matter.
This tendency to go ON as if the solemn referendum had never
occurred has been strikingly stated in the following editorial from a
recent issue of the Chicago Tribune:
The Europeans who are trying to frame policies and hit ON ex-
.pedients in the assembly OF the league of nations seem sngularly OBJ
fuse to the meaning Of the American election. They still think the
United States is coming in, and they still hope that it will pick up
They are willing, as indicated in the reports of assembly debates,
league. The suggestion is that if the United States got its hands
full of Armenia, Turkish and Asiatc troubles it would be forced into
There seems to be more dscoirdL than concord IN the assembly, but
there is unanimity ON one point. That is that the United States is
the natural protector and the moral guardian Of Armenia, which
Britain, France, Italy, and Greece, dividing up Turkey and Asia
This hope of involving the United States in Asiatic intrigue ig.
nores completely the election in which Mr.. Wilson presented the is
into the league, and it said it would not take Armenia or any other
foreign country. The United States said it and means it.
The point was settled. If the election on such issues had been in
it is astonishing that they cannot recognize Il in the United States
The government has been changed from one party to another on it
and the new government has plainly announced general policy.
The explanation OF Europe failure to real correctly and to I'M.
derstand may be found in our own diplomatic service and in some of
our eastern newspapers. American representatives abroad represent
sentativeS they are susceptible TO the social influences and they do
not escape the temptation OF pleasing politically and socially power
full persons with whom they associate. II rs pleasant TO offer such
persons assurances that the United States eventually will be found
virtually in the position in which Europe wishes to find it.
One source of misrepresentation may be found there, and there
Isl also a journalistic source. Some of the newspapers in the east, not
it now. If they are taken as redexes of opinion it might be under
stood that the United States has not just decided a solemn referendum.
The misunderstanding will have to be cleared away before any
agreements can be reached. There was a solemn referendum, with
its issues definitely stated, definitely understood, and definitely de-
will not take part in European intrigue or assume European burdens.
Uncle Sam is not Uncle George and it is useless to say, "Let
George do it,"