Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-03-17
Hoover Says
US. Must be
Represented

New York, Mar. 17.-Herbert Hoov-
er today issued a statement in which
he had modified his opinion. expressed
in a letter to President Wilson last
April. that the United States should
not be represented on the various
boards provided to enforce peace in
Europe. He now favors this country
having a representative on the repara-
tions commission in order that Amer
lean interests may be protected. He
protests against the publication Of his
letter TO President Wilson on the
ground that il was not issued from the
White House and he had not consented
to its publication.
The statement follows:
II have seen in some of this morn
ing's papers a copy of memorandum
of mine that was prepared in the
course of the peace conference on the
subject of our participation in the
large number of international com
missions set up in Europe. AS TO the
views expressed in the memorandum,
they were later modified as to the par
ticular of our having a representative
on the reparation commission itself
because of the large economic control
finally given to 1t over great part OF
Europe and the complete necessity Of
the United States to be represented
thereon at once in order to protect
American interests.
Publicity Not Authorized.
Regardless of any personal point OF
view in this matter there is to mt.
nothing that is such a breach of good
taste or the very foundations of re-
lations among government officials as
for them to issue to the press corre-
spondence that may have passed be.
tween them and their superiors in the
course of their service without appro-
val on both sides. am informed II
was not issued from the White House.
1t is scarcely necessary for me to say
that II was not released by me and
that searching inquiry in my own
office satisfies me that II has not come
from my staff"
In his letter to President Wilson
published today Mr. Hoover expressed
opposition to the continuance of the
United States as member of the vari-
GUS comissions set up under the peace
treaty, saying that such allies relation.
ship could only lead to vast difficulty
and initiate against the league of ma.
tions Representation of the United
States on the commissions, he said
would mean the country lending itself
TO the political and financial interests
or other governments during peace, "a
situation that must be entirely repul-
sive to our national interests, tradi-
tions and ideals" He added that he
was not sure that the revolution in
Europe was over and that "our people
are not prepared for us to undertake
the military policing Of Europe while
II boils itself out"
Honor at Stake.
The letter concluded.
1T grows upon me daily that the
United States Is the one great moral
reserve In the world today and that
we cannot maintain independence of
action through which this reserve is
to be maintained II we allow ourselves
to be dragged into detailed European
entanglements over a period of yea.,
In my views, II the allies can '.
brought to adopt peace on the basis OF
the fourteen points, we should lend to
the whole world our economic and
moral strength or the world will swim
IN sea of misery and disaster worse
than the dark ages. If they cannot be
brought to accept peace on this basis,
our national honor is at stake and we
should have to make peace independ-
emily and retire"