The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-08-05
A BRITISH COMMENTARY.


: A BRITISH COMMENTARY.
Mark Sullivan, Washington newspaper
) correspondent whose typewriter responds to the
thought waves of public opinion as expressed II
the national capital writes that Governor Cox !
problem is one of standing for President Will
sons league OF nations, OF standing for some
thing different; and it must be apparent to him
that if he does endorse Wilson's position on
the league nations he may find himself a little
later on in the most embarrassing position OF
being more loyal to Mr.. Wilson than the league
itself isl of standing Loyalty by institution
lat the very moment when that institution, Of its
own initiative, has become something different.
: There is quite apparent disposition, says Mr..
Sullivan on the part of those European states
men who control the league to ignore Mr. w llson
i1and to do business with the republican party.
And he concludes that it looks as thought these
statesmen have made up their minds to accept
as final the repeated refusal of America to en-
dorse Mr. Wilson's league, and have therefore
determined to adjust themselves to the differ
lent conception Of America international rela
lions set out in the republican platform and III
the utteranceS OF the republican leaders.
+ A recent issue of The Round Table, one of
the British political quarteries of excellent
standing, contains a thirty -tWo-page discussion
cf the present status of the league Of nations
which confirms the view and conclusions Of
Mark Sullivan. The first section of the article
is devoted to review of facts, the second to
comment on the position of the United States
toward the league. A just summary of opposed
views is given and this is the conclusion reached
in examining the proposal for reservations and
interpretations:
There is nothing peculiar in this attitude. 1t is
merely, repeat, the broad reflex of attitude
already taken up by all the European allies in
questions where their national interests affect
ed. and also by the British dominions in their
lations with the British government. It gives
a statement in plain English, OF limitations to
the ideal of International action which none of
the other allies will, in practice dispute. So far.
therefore, from destroying the league of nations
the American reservations have rendered it the
great service of pointing clearly to the flaws which
present neutralize its worth.
The article then proceeds to long discussion
of the problems involved in the attitude the
British empires dominions are manifesting to-
ward the league. It presages difficulties for
British craftsmanship of new and threatening
potential It declare that the British govern
ment is pledging itself to responsibilities which
the dominions may not approve and which it
cannot fulfill in face of such disapproval And
this conclusion is reached:
We should state definitely that our action with
in the league will be governed solely by own
judgment of every situation as it arises, and we
must undertake general obligations which we
may able willing, when the test comes to
discharge.
in commit ourselves to respon-
sibilities which cannot discharge to the full
with resources, Independent of assist
ance from any foreign power.
Read this and compare it with the statement
Of policy made by Senator Harding and by Gov
ernor Cox before he was a candidate.
The price of wheat in the trading centers is |
coming down with rapid run, with the chief
est Of spectators being forced to let go their
holdings in this Indispensable necessity of
life, but there is no Indication that the
falling off in the wheat pit will be passed on to
the loaf that goes on the family table. Strange /
how these fluctuations downward never seem to
reach far enough to tickle the pocket OF the ul- /
innate consumer. 4
A Young naval man who lost a leg in action at