Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-03-13
COLBY QUIBBLE
HOLDS UP u. S.
IN DIPLOMACY
International Affairs at
Standstill for Time
Being.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial 70 The Argusl.

Washington, d. c.. March 13.-An
extraordinary situation in world
diplomacy has risen which demon
strates to some extent why more
progress is not being made in get
ting the nations of the world back
to the real and not a fictitious basis
of peace.
The British, French and Italian
embassies here have been instruct
ed to consult the government of
the United States with reference to
the Turkish treaty, the terms of
which, being unsettled, are keping
the near east in political turmoil.
Jules Jusserand, the French en-
bassador, and dean of the diplo-
matte corps, must take the lead in
approaching the American govern
ment for the credentials of the Ital-
ian ambassador have never been
presented and the new British am
bassador has not yet taken up his
duties here.
But Ambassador Jusserand has
the diplomatic privilege Of dis
cussing matters with the head OF
the United States government and
not necessarily the secretary OF
state. In the present situation, MIR.
Wilson being i'll or at least unwill-
ing to receive foreign ambassadors
and the office of secretary of state
being untitled because the senate
has not confirmed the nomination
of Bainbridge Colby, the plight OF
Mr.. Jusserand is an unenviabie
one. In two or three days there
may not even be a secretary OF
state ad interim for the period dur
ing which Frank l.. Polk can hold
that position is subject to legal
doubts, now being threshed over in
the Office of the attorney general.
viii President Receive Him!
The question is therefore
whether MIR. Wilson will receive
the French ambassador and per.
| haps the charge d'affaires of the
British embassy and the new ltal'
ian ambassador. The excuse hith-
erto given was the presidents i'll
ness but the present situation Is
! further complicated by the sur
prising statement with reference tC
the alleged Imperialism of France
made by the president in his letter
to Senator Hitchcock. The presi-
dent said then:
throughout the sessions of the
peace conference in Paris, it was
evident that militaristic party
under the most influential leader
ship, was seeking to gain ascend
ency in the counsels of France
They were defeated then. but they
| are in control now"
7 This accusation has brought
forth a storm Of protests from the
, French press all the way from
veiled references to the regrettablC
| i'll health of the president to the
! inexcusably savage Outbursts tC
the effect that America is being
ruled by lunatic."
Ordered to Express Surprlse.
The French government is re,
ported moreover, to have instruct
ed Ambassador Jusserand TO eX'
press to the American government
its surprise and amazement at the
= presidents reference to france
but in Washington this does moi
awaken much excitement because
not so long ago Visconnt Grey
wrote a letter to the London Times
expressing views freely about
American political affairs and the
French press supported whole
heartedly that communication ant
defended it as immune from diplo
matte impropriety because it was
! tCOntinued on Page SeVen)