El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-02-09

GREY LETTER MAY BE USED
AS DIPLOMATIC PRECEDENT

ment he negotiated that the British
envoy did not see fit TO express uass-
ing sympathy for the president. who
did as much any any one man TO
bring the covenant into being and
VIII receive the credit for the struc-
ture, whether reservations are adout-
ca or not provided the Instrument
does work, as viscouut Grey is con-
tldent that il VIII, and the discredit
II II IS a LallEre-all this has had an
erect on the situation In Washing
ton during the past week. which can
not be lightly dismissed as a TEMPEST
IN teapot, as some OF the British
neispapers are doing Prime minister
Lloyd George is apparently awake to
me SERIOUSNESS OF the episode. for in
the interview cabled by Charles
Grasty from London ne states spe-
clIicaliF that Il would be improper for
him TO express the views which LLOYD
George expressed and generating the
British envoy on the ground that he
came as private citizen Yet the
prime minister promptly steps into
tne gap and speaks a word Of SYM
patty for the president and praise
Ior MS achievements in the war. his
readiness 20 pledge American re-
sources 70 the succor Of a losing
allied cause.
New Era in Diplomacy.
But what the incident illustrates
more than anything else Is the new
10 -A- AAANaAAAA II NAAlAla.NHa ENEraNlEfINL
~ ilson may not ike the Grey letter
lie may not be pleased because lord
Grey saw fit 70 minEie with members
OF the American senate and discuss
questions at the moment so vitality
related 10 international policies, but
his resentment is only analogous 10
the anger which was stirred Up On
britain when Messrs. Dunno and
Walsh went 10 Ireland and mingled
with the Sim Feiners, and when
president de Valera, Of Ireland, not
only was received by the mayor Of
New York city but when &c became
known that de Valera was a frequent
visitor at the offices OF United States
senator's surely, argue my British
friends, the president would not deny
viscount Grey the opportunity given
10 de Valera for technically neither
one had been received By our own
government, and the one had as much
privilege, therefore, as the other.
Much Unnecessary Fuss.
There is much unnecessary cere-
mony and fuss about presidents in
the conduct Of diplomacy. and presi-
dent Wilson has himself argued that
article II OF the covenant will give
any BODY. representing any nation, the
opportunity TO bring before the as
sembly OF the league for debate any
question which may affect the peace. J
not only. but the good understanding
between nations. He has insisted
that the matter OF ireland did affect
The good understanding between the /
United States and Great Britain
Is IL, therefore. the principle in
rolved in viscount Grey's intimacies
with American senator's, followed as
L was by public comment on a sub I
Jet that had become a matter of
heated dispute between political fac
tons. and not the substance OF his !
communication which is involved. III
the president permits the incident to I
pass without protest. formal or in /
formal, TO the British government, IL Z
viii stand as a precedent. and here
after all governments viii be able 20 /.
point 10 il as Justification for direct ]
Interchange Of views between par
iaments and senates and houses OF I
on ali matters OF domestic /
pr foreign concern which touch the /
fringe Of International interest a di- ]
rect interchange without the neces-
sary assent Of the executive branches Z
lf modern states - Copyright. 1920, /
The FL Pas0 Herald.