The Washington herald., 1920-10-18
GERMANS EYE
US. CAMPAIGN
Former Minister of Finance
Sizes Up Harding and
Cox in Article,
LEAGUE CHIEF ISSUE.
Defeated War Nation Sees
Hope in Republican
Victory at Polls.
LEAGUE CHIEF ISSUE.
BY LEON sCHALIT.
Washington Herald-Cross Atlantic
service-Special Cable Dispatch.

Vienna, Oct. 17.-An article by
George Gothein. member of the
German Reichstag, appears in the
Vienna Freie Presse." George
Gothein was Minister of Finance
under the present German govern
ment.
I'm the United States both the
Republican and the Democratic
candidates have lately spoken in
favor of Americas participation in
the League of Nations" he writes.
America, SO they argue, must not
restrict herself to national politics
she must not hold aloof in interna-
tional politics. The presidential
campaign has convinced them that
the American people do not approve
! OF the Senate's negative, non-inter-
fering League of Nations policy.
The Republican candidate, Mr.
Harding, emphasized that the
League of Nations, as constructed
in Versailles, is a danger for Eu-
rope; he wants it improved, revised
and based on justice.
support for Harding.
"On the strength of this declara-
ton both the German and the Irish
election committees have decided to
cast their lot with the Republican
candidate. Mr.. Hardings reply that
his aim is an election by American
and not by Irish or German ele-
ments must not be taken too liter
ally.
1t was a tactical necessity to
tcounteract the malicious interpre-
tation and exploitation of the Irish
German decision by the Democrats.
At any rate this decision has i'm
proved Mr.. Hardings chances.
The numeral strength of the two
great American parties being about
the same, the masses of German
and Irish voters can easily turn the
scales. Wilson's chances in 1916
were very poor German and Irish
their favorite did not quite come
up to expectations.
italian Vote "Undecided.-
THE voters of Italian origin
have apparently mott yet decided
how to act. The ever growing Dc.
mand by public opinion in Italy for
revision of the Peace Treaties is
likely to influence them in favor of
Harding. The latter, when elected.
is of course not bound to study the
desires of certain groups of the
electorate, but il is not to be as
sumed that he will ignore their de-
sires.
Public opinion in America has a
Keen and appreciative sense of NOR
atty and once it has decided to join
the League of Nations II will ener-
getically stand up for a League
built up and working in conformity
with universally recognized princi-
pies of justice and morality. The
fact is the Americans have with
drawn from hot European stew"
because they are deeply ashamed
of the American policy which has
betrayed its principles at Versailles,
and of President Wilson, who suf-
fered himself to become a tool Of
tClemenceau's intrigues and vim
Idictiveness.
Americas Withdrawal from the
League of Nations and from Euro
pean affairs was a great misfortune
for Germany and Austria. A weak
and wavering character like Will
son would. we presume, have been
lovermastered just as much by Mil
lerand as by Clemenceau and Poin-
care. But in future things will be
idifferent-if Harding should be
elected"
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| Service, Incl