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

factions. il is rather a demand that
we fulfil our share Of obligations,
which we have acknowledged
Now everyone knows that the
American view Is quite the opposite.
Here in Washington, largely through
out the country, ] find the general
opinion to be that in the world war
the United States saved France and
Great Britain by military interposi-
ton and then and thereafter saved
Europe, by the enormous contrihu-
tions Of food and money.
That there Is any further posi-
tive obligations that we owe
Europe the $4,000, 100000 be-
cnuse Of what Europe did for uEi
that we have been the bene-
ficiarfes OF the sufferings and
sacrifices Of others, this notion
does not to any extent prevail in
the United States
Mr.. Keynes argues that the United
States should be perfectly willing to
contribute $4,000, 000. 900 II as a re-
suit Of the contribution the world
peace we're more firmly established.
@LIberaIs European View.
It is a simple and sufficient
example Of the so called liberal
European view. America is today
holding back from the signing Of the
peace settlement. the senate is re-
character OF the treaty, not as it af-
fects the United States. but as II az
fects Europe. We are refusing TO
accept the treaty because il is in
equitable, so far as IL concerns Ger
many. But II Europe consents 10
modify the harsher clauses affecting
Germany, then the United States viii
not hesitate TO chip in Sl0,000,0O0. 900
as its contribution TO the general
fund necessary TO achieve this better
settlement
] recognize that this will seem
fantastic TO most Americans. Exactly
this sentiment prevails here in Wash
ington- II is the conviction that the
United States did its full share and
more than its full share, given its
own responsibilities, and that there
is no moral or financial claim upon
il for further contributions to Europe
The fact OF the matter seems TO
be that, so far as the mass Of Ameri-
cans were concerned, we entered the
war only when the Germans forced
US into il. by their submarine cam
paign; that, having entered, We were
prepared 10 consent TO all sacrifices
10 attain the defeat OF the German,
but that when he had been defeated
and his defeat was so complete that
even our associates in the war recog-
nized it as such, our responsibilities
were at an end.
Situation Misunderstood.
All over Europe, in Germany, in
France, in Austria, in italy and even
in Great Britain, there is a very clear
misunderstanding OF the situation, as
the people Of the United States see
before them. peoples on either side
Of the ocean are arriving at utterly
different conclusions Europe is judg-
ing our present actions by the words
OF president Wilson and his assO-
ciates spoken at Paris. When Europe
when the French and British suggest
that we resign our claims to $4,000
100000 owed US, IN the main by those
two nations, neither regards II as a
pure gift. rather TO the Frenchman
II is q payment OF a debt, our own
public spokesman have acknowledged
in their utterances- To the English
man IL is q payment made necessary
now, to bring about the establish
ment OF that system OF world peace
and order. for which we, through the
same voices. pledged all our re-
sources
The British and the French demand
for the American contribution Of
100000 100000 is only a first and
part payment; even Mr.. Keynes sug-
gests new loans, once the old are
cancelled, q payment on account and
for the establishment OF that scheme
OF world ordering, which Ar. Wilson
advocated at Paris, declared 70 be
the desire OF his fellow countrymen
and. so far as was possible. en-
deavored TO persuade his country
men TO accept. It is our contribution
to the capital stock Of the league Of
nations. a wholly reasonable assess
ment, provided that the United States
acknowledges the obligation, joins
in the articles OF Incorporation.
To facilitate European understand
ing Of American circumstance moth
ing has contributed ore than the
recent letter Of lord Grey, printed in
the London Times; IL makes clear
the legal aspects OF the American
situation perfectly. But even his
document viii not at once demolish
the previous notion that America Is
regulating an obligation, which was
actually binding; still less VIII il
remove the belief that America rec
ognizes a moral obligation; which, at
the moment, at least, seems to be
exactly what America does not rec
ognize.-Copyrigh 1920, by Wheeler
Newspaper Syndicate.