The Washington herald., 1920-12-03
Merely Human.


states. In all the ehaneeleries of the old countries
'Aefe mas been growing and natural dread and
suspicion OF this country. Those men are human
and know as little of the more intimate public senti
ment OF our pepole we know of their actual
undersurface public opinion.
Naturally, also, they all more or less on
edse. They are in the mental attitude of Seeing
tnings' OF exaggersting noises, without searching
osek OF them or under them for the meaning and
strength Of the more silent currents At the mo-
ment OF their most desperate straits during the war
this country came to their help The war over thew
TOOK President Wilson's actions and promises at
their face vafre
lhey had no adequate means of knowing ex
aefy what our help his actions meant as bal
zneed BY the mental attitude of the controlling mass
OF ms people. Then came the deadlock between
the President and the Senate. The army in EUROPE
almost wholly disappeared the expected food Of
nnaneal help from this side did not materialize; it
was, in fact, fatty refused
Instead Of idealism and altruism controlling N.
international attitude of the United States they saw
these overbalanced by very practical conservation
amounting IN their disheartened condition to what
seemed rule of mere materialism They had ex-
peeted everything; they got little. Theirhopes were
high As to recovery based largely on this countrvs
quite sentimental generosity forgiveness of debts
nd every form Of help, to military force They
tound they must face their reconstruction problems
alone
The election followed, and none in this country
ever aroused in Europe comparable interest amount
ng to solicitude Before 1910 an election in this
eountry was for those countries but distant phe-
pomenon of but Indifferent importance But even
uese coming during the were not watched with
tnat tense feeling OF personal moment this
OF November ?. Every move of the campaign was
weighed in the European balance
They heard the slogan, america First" sounded
everywhere. That the controlling curty stated
International policy of the vctors Is it surprising
that it startled them; that they msinterpreted it;
that to them it grew have the rather sinister sig
nihcsnce of america Uber Ales" Itcame from the
one country financially sound strong powerful with
IT'S man-power unimpaired and with 4ooooo trained
soldiers in its population.
1t would have been remarkable if they had not
interpreted the situation just they did and begun
to draw together financially and economically for
their own protection 1t is very significant that
regardless OF differences as to other matters there
has been none of consequence between the greater
powers on matters that concerned their mutual inde-
pendence OF the United States This is in no sense
combination against this country, but it is merely
mutual protective action to guard their acknoyl-
edged greater weakness.
: Before undertaking to judge the acts of these
countries, our own people should consider in this
way, the situation whole. They should not
Jump at conclusions, allow prejudice and suspicion
10 rule their judgment, allege sinister purpose
IS controlling the attitude of those governments
howard this government
The agreement between Great Britain and
France as to the Mesopotamsn oil fields is an in
stance They have agreed to a wholly equal and
mutual interest there. The United States was not
mentioned. Why should it have been? This gov
Hnment has taken responsibility whatever there
is not of the league of nations, and the covenant
eeures equal opportunity in mandatory countries
pnly to members of the league Mr.. Colby's note
upon the subject overshot the mark. 1t was based
bn Misunderstanding rather than misunderstanding
G else was like some of Mr.. Bryan's notes merely
Tor home consumption"
American capital is not barred from investment
here. 1t would be welcomed There is nothing
The British and French more desire just now than
American interest in that region. They would re-
loce to have capital under the aegs of the United
States invested there They would then feel infinite
y safer as to their investments and control,
No other proof of this is needed than the in
ense satisfaction they evidence at President Will
IONS acceptance of the role of mediator between the
Turks and Armenians, role already usurped by
Lenine who simply ordered the Turks to stoo war
ing on the Armenians now under Soviet, rule"
Possibly Mr.. Wilson may find triangular situation
% unravel, rather than dual one
But none the less, there is rejoicing at Geneva
With the belief that by more step by the Pres
dent in sanctioning the request that Gen Wood
cad the volunteer troops to support his mediation.
he United States will at last have gone so far into
ne center of the European muddle that it can not
withdraw. Other like evidence is seen running all
through the league meeting
There is but one way for the United States to
meet and overcome this feeling toward it, this mis-
understanding and jumpy feeling; that is by joining
he league so Americanized as to this governments
responsibilities under the covenant as to- tear awav
nd bre'e down all this uncertainty, misund derstand-
ng ala hesitaney, as well as intrigue and perhaps
overt hostility.