The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-03
EXPERTS ARGUE
OYER PROBLEMS
OF NATIONALITY
Doubts Rise Stronger as to
Failure of Leagues
Lofty Principles.
BALFOUR sIDEsTEPPING
Boyden, a Hoover Man, Gives
Brussels Conferees Heavy
Shock on L. s. Attitude.

Special Gable Despatch 10 THE HERALD
1 Copyright, 1920, BY THE New YORK HERALD.
LONDON. Oct. 2.-Shadows Of doubt
that the lofty principles arrived at in
the Paris Peace Conference may work
out are gathering in allied circles.
Even Arthur J. Balfour, one of the
leading champions of the League Of
Nations, is doing vigorous sidestep-
ping to escape these shadows. While
no one here denies the principles were
right. it seems that these principles
need a lot of explaining, with a long
succession Of ifs and whereases.
Eminent men attending the Con-
gress Of Philosophy at Oxford this
week, with Mr.. Balfour presiding,
rolled wave on wave of rhetoric over
the Problems Of Nationality" only to
arrive at the conclusion expressed by
the fictional Sir Roger de Coverly:
There is much to be said on both
sides"
But the same day there came des-
patch from Brussels indicating that at
least one side of the question was quite
clear to a certain American. His name
is w. C. Boyden, who was known as a
Hoover man" before he Joined the Rep
aratlons Commission. His speech before
the international Financial Congress in
Brussels the Daily Chronicle prefaced,
ONT nd
Every effort has been made to keep
| the Brussels financial congress off thu
deepest causes OF Europe's sickness; to
make 1t a very polite and discreet meet
ing of economic doctors who would do
everything except tell the patient the
plain truth about his case and indicate
that n major operation was necessary
Immediately.
But the men back of the congress
made the nistake-from this point OF
l view---of inviting an American represen-
tative, and now the fat is in the fire.
4 His gray suit. his drawing voice and
manner OF easy. but not uncouth, conf
dence suggest a merchant who has had
experience in Democratic conventions
and robustly scorns those other conven-
lions which rule diplomacy and much of
the social Intercourse In the old world"
An this because Mr.. Boyden told the
congress very bluntly where Europe
stood with America.
!, No Economic Barrier in U. 8.
The Chronicle pointed out that after
the civil war America reunited herself
so completely that there Is no vestige
OF an economic barrier from one side OF
the continent TO the other. and that in
this union lies her strength and wealth.
whereas Europe. which now asks more
American aid. is two years after the
grsf1 Ill - lT..fxf
and rivalries.
Mr.. Boyden was quoted as having
said: Americans are always ready TO
do business but Europe Is not yet a
fair business risk. The victors must
meet the vanquished and a firm peace
must be made and real union. Then
America will come in"
IL was explained by the Chronicle
that Mr. Boyden made his speech with
out notes. and the speech was called
by the writer the inevitable comment
on the facts leading up TO the-financial
congress and on "the essential facts OF
the European troubles" He said Mr..
Boyden's remarks do not mean that the
Brussels congress will be a failure. A
certain economic axiom will be freshly
| Illustrated, he said. but he added, the
chief task will remain untouched. Then
he asked II the British delegates should
not take a leaf out OF Mr.. Boyden's
notebook"
All this is plain talk. without the
balm OF eloquence employed by the
philosophical scholars at oxford. but
something like an idea that all is not
, well was gathered from the learned dis
sertations. which are featured by the
London Times. For Instance Prof Hell
J evy Of the Paris University argued that
any system OF International relations
put into effect must not DO based on
any one principle. such as self-determi-
nation, but on n number OF principles.
which are needed to supplement one
another
Talks on rnterdependence.
Prof. Marcel Mauss, also of the Paris
University talked about the growing in
terdependence OF peoples. while Prot
Ruyssen OF the Bordeaux University de-
clared that n conflict between opposing
tendencies toward liberation and con-
centration was inevitable, and Rene
Johannet said Two must represent the
future 10 ourselves an miiltaristic"
Gilbert Murray described nationality
as neither sacred nor sublime. but az
| something that was exceedingly dan
gerous.
Mr. Baifour said statesmen could not
occupy their time drawing fine distinc-
lions which were highly appropriate 10
a philosophical conference and which
would doubtless lead TO a great increase
in human knowledge X carried out, but
not 90 any very rapid progress. He said
Il was absolutely necessary for human
ity to act in some corporate capacity on
the priciple OF nationality in Its present
fun sense rather than later growth. He
was entirely agreed that they could not
apply this principle as II Il we're a
mathematical or a physical principle. 20
be applied without exception TO the
whole realm OF nature and thus 20 re-
main an eternal measure by which hu.
man society was TO be constituted. lie
said that where the democracy OF tho
future was going to break down was
/ where In communities whose boundaries
must remain unit there were elements
which we're not homogeneous and did
not lend themselves to democratic insti
tutons
AIR Balfour spoke st great leagth on
fine philosophical differences. However.
the result OF Il all was the impression
that the principles expounded in the
Parts Peace Conference were as faulty
philosophically as they were practically.