The Washington herald., 1920-10-30
0yertures From Europe.

~ RDlNARY common sense would suggest
j that Immediately after the pending change
in the administration OF public affairs in
the United States European nations now enrolled
in the league of nations would begin discussion with
the new administration of the terms upon which
this country would the league. For partisan
purposes there has been emphatic denial from our
government that anything of this sort might be
expected, but those denials have been deprived of
any force by the utterances Of NJ. Bourgeose
and the very specific information from France that
Ambassador Jusserand has already received his in
sructions to take up this subject his return to
Washington
The participation of the United States in the
league is OF importance to this country, but Of
greater importance to the league That body can
hardly function effectively in the absence of the
one nation that could approach European problems
in spirit OF entirely disinterested detachment.
For us there is neither profit nor glory to be won
by participation in the European clash of rival am
bitions and landgrabbing states. But there will be
profit if by our influence prevent those
ambitions and those predatory methods from again
Plunging Europe into which would once
more compel participation.
Whatever may be the outcome of next Tues
dHy's contest At the polls, the question of our &C
s=ptance OF this duty, assumption of this task
which IS necessary to own future peace and
OF rival politicians has prevented the league of
tions and our share therein from having been the
subject of the Solemn referendum" which the
President desired
The success OF Gov Cox would be far from Civ
ing assurance that the league as drawn at Yer
sailles, will be accepted by the United States in its
precise or even in its substantial form. The COM
plexion of the Senate has its bearing upon that
and the personal convictions of Gov.
Cox are to be considered in their bearing upon the
problem. Those convictions not as yet defined
with the clearness that might be desired. From
being at with the President in the first week
OF the campaign, the Democratic nominee has now
reached the determination to sit down with the
Senate and reach an agreement"
A very sensible determination, too, but not one
that affords promise of the literal adoption of the
covenant with Article Kits true heart''-unmuti-
lated
Nor is there the slightest reason to believe that
the success of Senator Harding would mean the
withdrawal of the United States from any share in
a European league for peace. The vote of the
people for that candidate cannot with any fairness
be thus construed On the contrary, the Repub-
hcan nominee has never concealed the fact that his
attitude is not of opposition to our cooperation
with Europe for the maintenance OF peace but only
to the form which the Versailles covenant gives to
that cooperation. The election OF Harding-not-
wthstanding the assertions Of his enemies, and his
more dangerous friends, such as Hiram Johnson
does not moan the isolation of the United States
As matter of fact nothing could mean that
No individual any political party is strong
enough to hold this nation free henceforward OF a
certain share in the rvalrcs and troubles that besct
Europe. The old times of aIoofness are gone and
can never return. A nation to which Europe owes
$4,000 100000 cannot be entirely detached from Eu-
rOpean affairs. business community such as ours,
seeking to extend its trade to all quarters of the
globe, cannot thrive under a political organization
that would ignore all save domestic problems
The very force Of circumstances will compel
entrance upon some form of international asso-
citation, and beyond doubt the next administration,
whatever its politics, will speedily receive over
tures from Europe on the subject