The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-12-24

ing to DO with Europe on a political al
lance basis
The truth is Europe's statesmen are
playing a cautious game with respect to
the Harding administration and the
moves that are being made are all in the
direction of securing American coopera-
ton.
For instance: I. Great Britain per
suaded the other powers at the Geneva
meeting of the assembly OF the league OF
nations that ii would be more discreet to
leave the covenant Unamended so that
America might be given an opportunity
to express her viewpoint on changes.
,. Argentina baked at this Difference to
America. not because of any unfriendly
feeling to the United States but because
Of a conviction that the other nations of
the world ought to be big enough and
independent enough to organize a world
association themselves.
3. Canada's clamor for changes espec.
tally on Article Y Is largely the result Of
the discussion of the United States
which has naturally overfowed the north
| ern border OF this country, but baslcally
| Great Britain is pleased at the independ-
ence of spirit shown by the Canadians
| for it would seem tOr dispose OF the argu-
meut that the SIX votes OF the RFltIsh col
] onies would always be east as Il unit for
England. a..evc .o- -
/ 4. Prime Minister Lloyd Georges speech
in London to TIE delegates who returned
from the Geneva meetlng Is a point and
explanation OF ther jpohcyas He saws that
there can he no disarmament or effective
world organization without the United
States. This is construed here as cOnhr-
nation OF the policy pursued at Geneva
where no changes in the league Itself were
"a permitted out of Difference Co the Harding
administration. But Europe Is not inter
ested i'm new debating society or n new
DauFfv organization like the Hague Tubu-
nal proved to. be. Europe Is faced with
economic problems that demand settle
ment as an OutgTowth of the Versailles
treaty What Europe wants is American
PARTICIPATION on the reparatons commls-
sion which is To fix the size of the German
indemnity. and the assumption by the
United States of some responsibility FOL
bringing order out of the political and
economic chaos that exists At nTesent j.
so MANY parts of Europe. And the mo
ment Europe discovers that Ameucs
means 10 play only a nominal part IN z
world organization, reserving to hersel
all rights on all questions. and assumnl
no obligations the prediction rs freely
/ made here that Europe will prefer Thu
present league OF nations without thu
United States to anv auew association
l which disturbs the political arrangement
and examinations which the league OF ma
= tions has established. In other woTGs
2 Europe will wait for the American term
: but will determine for herself whethe
II they are valuable enough 10 ulscdIu III
Il present league.
: Diplomats thus far will not hazard
l ouess hut the significant thing Is that tn
: bio powers III the present. league hav
7 virtually agreed to accent American. sug
; gestions for careful consideration and t
! endeavor to convert the Harding admins
! tration to closer participation in Euro
i nean affairs than the camnaijgn speec1he
70 would seem to indicate. Failing in this
: they will revert to their own organiza
tion in the leagnse which is nnDrecedent ;fi
an executive council and brinqs TIL
smaller powers together into a body will
which the council Of nations can at leas
deal directly.
The vital thing is that diplomats do no
look for a speedy settlement Of the con
troversy. The announcement that nego
tiations would be begun with the principa
mowers after March 4th means a
least years exchanges if the cables ar,
used and at least SIX months of converse
ton # a conference Of dig9lomats is called
In either event. few Diplomats eXnec
any kind of decision for another year o
more.