The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-19
Tacit Understanding With Wilson at Paris Led
to Hope That New Loans Would Be Made

resources of the nations belonging to the
league This means in effect, sharing our
raw materials with Italy; II means inter-
national communism, but coincident with
this proposal, which strikes the American
public as both audacious and impossible,
comes the revelation of the fact that at Paris
we proposed to shift from European 20
American shoulders at least $40 zoo, 000,0 900 of
the debt incurred by European nations In
fighting the world war.
Nor is this all. M. Tardieu says frankly
that other steps would have been TAKEN that
the cancellation of debts was only the first.
Mr. Keynes in his book suggests another
step. namely the lending Of further sums to
European nations. but adds that these loans
would be made with the idea that they should
be repaid
AS we begin new discussion of the ques-
ton of American entrance into the League
of Nations or continued refusal to enter, it
seems to me there must be some sort of
review of the commitments which were made
on our behalf during the negotiations which
preceded the creation of the league itself
and what. for reasons which were at least
respectable, the European nations were led
to believe would be the terms Of our par
ticipaton.
On the territorial side we were committed
by the Anglo French American treaty to the
aggression. We were bound by the covenant,
as interpreted by the President in his May
31st speech, to send our fleets and armies
across the seas if the frontiers of Rumania
and Serbia, and by inference those Of the
other European members Of the league were
violated.
On the financial side the President had
counted upon persuadng his fellow country
men to undertake the burden Of 100000 00
- - A-I~S Of
aiding Europe to restore its shaken financial
condition. This cancellation of debts was to
be followed by other loans, but in theory
these loans were to be redeemed In due
course Of time.
There remains the question, and this ques-
ton is uppermost in many Washington
minds to-day, as to what, if any. explanation
existing in American suggestions or agree
ments at Paris underlies Signor Tittoni's
otherwise amazing proposal at Geneva. Was
there suggestion or even a hint Of some
international pooling Of economic resources?
Will the records of the Paris conference. If
they are ever published, disclose a whole
reservoir of facts bearing upon this very
important question?
Hint That Constantinopie
Was to Be Taken Over by Us
Nor can we forget that in the matter Of
mandatories Europe received from US an ex-
plicit assurance that we would undertake
the task Of establishing Armenia and that
there was more than a hint that would
also take over Constantinople. have been
struck by the fact that in his memoirs which
are attracting worldwide attention Col. Rep
ington narrates that long before the Paris
conference he discussed with a former Brit
ish Prime Minister the need of getting the
n COpata N n
me this is significant, because in Paris one
member of the American delegation enlarged
to me upon the possibilities of the United
States action in the Turkish capital where
he saw US repeating our achievement at
Havana.
1t is a fact. established by the progress
of events in the Near East since the Paris
conference witnessed again by the long de-
lays In disposing Of certain regions. that
Europe has been waiting upon the decisive
demonstration of American purpose before
seeking a solution which would exclude the
possibility of American participation in Asia
Minor The appeal from Geneva to the
President to act personally in mediating
between Renal Pasha and the Armenians
is final evidence of the survival Of the
hope which was a belief less than two
years ago.
But this is an excursion. What was in
~
the Tittoni incident at Geneva is no more
than a logical continuation OF ideas ex-
pressed at Paris and a further insistence
upon policies which We're accepted In Paris
as representing American ideas Just as
long as there is a question Of American
membership in the league there will be
survival Of the hopes which resulted from
American utterances and actions at Paris
so long, for instance, there will be a belief
that we shall consent TO a cancellation OF
the war debts to us Of the European nations.
along lines first made public by Mr. Keynes
and now explained In their historical setting
by NJ. Tardieu.
What We Seemed to Promise
Is Remembered by Europe
When there Is an evident enthusiasm in
Europe for American membership in the
league on any terms. with any "reserva-
tons" that the Senate in It's wisdom may
choose to append to the treaty of Versailles
II Is because in the back Of every European
mind is the memory of what America seemed
to promise during the Paris conference.
When one reads, as one must daily. Of the
European prayer for American participation
In the task of world reconstruction, one must
perceive that what IL expected OF us is
continuation under other leadership OF the