New-York tribune., 1920-03-18
Advised President Year
Ago America Should
Not Police Europe or
Meddle in Its Brawls
Letter Is Read by
Borah i'm Senate
administration Fears He
Will Solidify Opponents
of President and Treaty
Bv Carter Field

e.. Hoover mas peeH tEanSioiiied ny w.
DAYS Developments into vigorous anti
Wilson force. Publication this morning
bv aThe Philadelphia Public Ledger. -
owned BY one of Hoovcr's most i'm
,ortant and vigorous hackers for the
Presidency, Cyrus H. X. Curtis, of a
letter written by Mr.. Hoover last April
70 President Wilson created a profound
sensation here.
His statement of opposition to en-
atoiling America IN every quarrel in
Europe in particular and his general
onoosition to the foreign policy which
has since been advocated by Mr.. Wilson
are not regarded here as being modified
hv his statement issued in New York
to-day.
In the opinion of strong Administra-
.ion men the publication of the letter
was intended to boost Nh Hoover for
the Republican nomination. Those TAX
inc this view say that both Mr.. Hoover
and Mr.. Curtis have leanings rather
toward the Republican than the Demo
cratic party Mr.. Hoover only recently
characterized himself as Ell "indepcn-
dent Republican,
Wilson Democrats Alarmed
Thev say further that Mr.. Hoover.
according to mos. of the political eX-
merits, could be nominated by the Demo
Gratis only with the consent and ap-
nroval of Woodrow Wilson. which con-
sent this letter has made most unlikely.
Therefore, they reason, those respon-
sible for making the letter public must
rave had in view the lettering of
Hoover's chances for the Republican
nomination.
But actually the letter, canvass Of
Democrats day disclosed, has made
Nr. Hoover a rallying point for the
anti-Wilson Democrats. At least two
Democratic Senator'S who have public
" denounced Mr.. Hoover to-day ad
mtted tina. their views were much
changed by the ePistle. Democratic
Senator's who are working for reserva
tons to the treaty and who favor rati-
fcation with strong reservations are
much pleased at this evidence of Mr..
Hoover's agreement with their posi-
ion
The Administration men arc doing
Inc best they can to-day to drive Nr.
Hoover clean over into the Republican
camp. They are alarmed By the evil
dences of opposition to the President
within the party from. many sections
Of the country. The Hoover incident
is too much inclined to consolidate the
opposition to Wilson under banner
which might spell success to be pleas
ing to them.
Hitchcock Gets Laugh
Administration Leader Hitchcock,
himself a candidate for the nomina-
ion. although he has been known up
- g., hl,, iy,C C1;ned ri
Hoover made a point to-day to insert
Mr. Hoover's statement in the Congress
sional Record after Senator Borah had
read the original letter to the Senate.
The laugh which followed Mr..
Borah's question as to whether Mr..
Hitchcock did this as friend or an
enemy OF Mr.. Hoover showed how the
minds of the Senators were working
on the hetter.
Nothing can be of more concern to
the American people in these days,
said Senator Borah. than the views of
the numerous candidates for the Presl-
dency. | desire to read paragraphs
from a most remarkable letter which
There is no man, perhaps, who is bet
ter fitted to diagnose the situation in
Europe than Mr. Hoover Mr. Borah
then read this extract:
Il am convinced that there has grown
up since the armistice the policy. per-
haps unconscious out nevertheless Ell
fective. of dragging the United States
into every political and economic ques-
tlton in E<lrope and constantly endeav-
oring to secure pledges of economic
and political support from us in return
for our agreeing to matters which we
consider for their common good, where
we have no interest, and constantly
using as as a stalking horse economi-
cally and politically, solely in .he in
terests of internal political groups
within the Allied governments. These
obiectives and interests may be per
fectiy justified from their point. OF
view, but it forces us into violations
of our every instinct and into situa-
tons that our own people will never
stand
II have the feeling that revolution in
Europe is by no means over. The So
clal wrongs in these countries are Tar
from solution, and the tempest must
blow itself out, probably with enormous
violence. Our people are not prepared
for us to undertake the military polio
ing of Europe while it boils out its So
cial wrongs.
Insists on Fourteen Points
1T grows upon me daily that the
United States is the one great moral
reserve IN the world to-day and that we
cannot maintain that independence of
acton through which this reserve is
to ne maintained if we allow ourselves
20 be dragged into detailed European
eatanglements over a period of years.
In my view. if the Allies cannot be
brought to adopt peace on the basis of
,he Fourteen Points we should retire
rom Europe lock, stock and barrel. and
we should lend to the whole world our
economic and moral strength, or the
world Will swim in a sea of misery and
disaster worse than the dark ages. If
shey cannot be brought to accept peace
on THIS basis our national honor is at
ssake, and we should have to make
peace independently and retire. l know
sa notning in letter, or spirit, of any
,Asement of your own, or in the Four
sa FONTS, that directly or indirectly
mss tne United States to carry on this
war through the phase of enforcement
~ y. the multitudinous demands and in
.asues OF great number of other gov
s.aments and their officials. 1t does ap-
poar 70 me that your conception Of the
IIasue OF nations was with a view to
~. .ae provision Of dominant court,
shre mere these difficulties could be
~ haasned out. and if we sit as one of
s sas prosecutors the court will have no
norah said:
mat is an infinitely stronger indict-
gN against this program than it has