Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-13
EUROPE WILL NOT ALLOW
HARDING TO SCRAP LEAGUE
Edwin James, Foreign Corresponds
cnt of New York Times, Says
Plan impossible.
&. O. II. MUST ABOUT FACE
Premier ATillcrand Tells Root
France and Her Associates Are
Determined to Bar Any Attcmpt
To Rcwritc Versailles Treaty.

senator Harding and the cotcrie OF
+ Republican leaders who are at pres
ent his chief advisers, are making
the worst possible mistake in dccIar-
ing that they will rewritc the Yer
saillcs treaty ii they. win this fan"
declared Edwin l.. James. the famous
foreign correspondent OF the New
York Times. who passed through this
c.ty yesterday
"Elihu Root has been told by rre-
mier Millcrand, OF France" contin-
ued Mir. James. who is fresh from the
other side, that neither his country
nor any other of the. European ma
lions will permit the United states
to take this step
Root 10 Bring Message
Moreover. Mr.. Root has been re-
questcd by Millerand to make this
plain to the Republican nominee at
tho first opportunity he has on his
return TO this country.
The French and other Europeans
cannot understand what in the world
Americans are driving at in their per
sistent pecking away at intnitcslmal
technicalities in the league of nations
covenant as placed in the Versailles
treaty by Wilson. They wan; TO see
us rise above this petty level and
show our complete sympathy with
them and their troubles by getting in
to the league with them. Then, and
not until then, will they gladly ac-
cedc to all the requests we are max
ing for alterations and reservations.
They VIII agree to practically any
thing If they are fortified by our
pledge to stand with them shown
by our willingness to joint the league
as they have done. If we do no; come
to see it in this way. America will
run across many an obstacle in set
Ting the establishment problems
ahead.
4. =. Must Enter League.
AS far as the political outcome IN
this country is concerned. it makes
little difference on which side vic
tory rests; our world foreign policy
must be shaped by our entry into the
league. Without that the pressing
problem of foreign exchange will not
he satisfactorily settled in short
period of time. rs IL is vitality neces-
sary that IT should be. The French
now arc more provoked over this sit
uation tsan any other one single
thing IN the relations between France
and America.
They are going to repay next month
$3.50 100000 in gold. every penny Of
which they spent in this country at
the rate of between , 1-o and q
francs to the dollar. But when they
came to buy the gold for the repay
ment they had to pay IL francs
TO the dollar, and this IL something
, that cannot he lightly passed off
Though they may be accused OF ex-
plotting their sacrifice for the sake
Of propaganda. It is a sacrifice never
thc!oss. and great one
France is going to he In much
more stable condition shortly than
the average business man OF this
country either expects or believes II
will be possible for her TO reach. And
She will reject our commercial adj
Fanccs unless we go the whole route
with her in our diplomatic relations.
Cannot Remain Isolated. ~
| The nrcsen, attitude in this conn
| Try that the EuroScan nations should
10" left 10 take care OF themselves will
prove ruinous 10 US France and Eng
! land might take the same view, with
regard 20 The Balkan states, hut they
/ ar" not taking 1t; instead they are
I paving millions monthly 10 feed them.
Md they VIII he able to keen this
Np' !or me time is rapidly approach
/ 'hS when the? WI! uLt need 10 spend
/ anything more FOR food on this side
/ OF. the Atlantic. Then. IL not before,
! our exporters will have seen the wis
dom OF takiTG tho side OF the league
advocates which they are at present
FrJcc'inS for The impossible plans OF
harding TO scrap the league and re-
write the Paris treaty. The powers
'n't he IN France have sent Harding
""fH mat these two things will not
. "e permitted By Europe, and their III
,!mHtrm VIII have an undoubted eff
/ ,"c' on the Republics, speeches 10
ne made from now on until election
day"