Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-27
PRESIDENT TO SEE
SIR AUCKLAND SOON
British Ambassador Will
Find International Ques-
ti0nS Difficult.


tions Difficult.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
President Wilson expects TO grant al
audience to Sir Auckland Geddes, th'
new British ambassador. within a few
days The State Department has asket
the British envoy to hold himself i,
readiness for visit to the White
House.
But Sir Auckland will find the tasl
of discussing international affair:
with the head of the American gov
ernment practically as difficult as tina
of American ambassadors who hav.
been instructed to act as observers
at the councils of state abroad. Fol
whichever way one turns provision:
Of the treaty of peace and league OF
nations. under which European gov.
ernments are now functioning. stanc
in the way. The whole structure OF
foreign affairs is interwoven nova
days with the execution of the peace
treaty which America signed but die
not ratify.
Bulking larger. however, than the in
determinate status of the peace treaty
is the existence in the United States OF
an aggressive group Of American citi-
xens who are sponsoring the cause of
Irish independence In analyzing the
causes Of the rift in Americas ranks
over the peace treaty, Viscount Grey did
not in his famous letter to the London
Times feel it discreet to take cogniZance
of what has been. from the first, an
active opposition to the peace treaty and
especially to article y. from the Irish
sympathizers
While no British envoy coming to the
United States may formally take notice
OF it, the Irish independence movement
in this country is unQuestionably In the
minds of President Wilson and Secre-
tary Colby. as one Of the most delicate
questions affecting the relations between
the British empire and the United
States
British Opinion Outlfned.
An authoritative outline OF the
British position as given the writer
is therefore pertinent at this time.
While the Irish question has gotten
into Americ&n politics. it is no less
a disturbing factor in British poll
tics. where the cry Of all classes iz
to get something done Immediately.
Only today, for instance, comes q
cahlegrap telitnE OF the speech Of
Lbfd Robert cscH In the house Of
commons condemniHg the British
government for ''vacillation'' and
warning against a cycle of anarchy
that would lead to an Irish republic.
The British government Is resolved
to enact the home rule bill providing
for dual representation for the north
and south Of ireland in an Irish par
lament This will be put through
by midsummer or August of this year
at the latest.
As for Independence. the present
viewpoint of the British cabinet is
practically unanimous against such
an idea Ireland is too close to Eng
~ o.
comforts sake in the event of q war
in which Ireland might afford sub
marine or aerial bases to an enemy.
The British government is willing
to give the Irish people full control
of their domestic affairs. but is firmly
resolved to keep control of Ireland's
external affairs in the same way as
it maintains jurisdiction over the
foreign concerns Of all of it's do
There is no undue optimism in Eng
land that this plan of home rule will
satisfy the Irish people at this time,
but there is a conviction that the peo-
pie Of Ireland may ultimately accept
home rule as the best that can be OBJ
tanned. 1t is perhaps hope more
than a conviction, but it represents
the trend Of British policy.
Enelana's .vacillation."
In defense of England's ''vacilla-
tion." it is contended. that with the
withdrawal of the United States from
an active participation in European
affairs since the peace conference. the
burden of keeping peace in Europe
has fallen upon Great Britain In
deed. it may be said that the policy
which tanscends all others just now
in the British cabinet is that of get
ting peace in Europe The peace con-
lof q - walls
tangles and boundary disputes. Rus
sia is an open sore. Germany is eco
nomically gasping for breath and Italy
has joined with England in persuadins
France to forget her war spirit for
the moment and keep from stranglinz
Germany.
In this connection the writer is able
to shed some light on what has for the
last fortnight puzzled observers as
to the true relations between France
and Great Britain.
The sharp note from England criti-
cising French policy in occupying
German territory was not unweicome
in the French foreign Office. where ca )
small section of the French military
party had succeeded for the moment
in forcing Premier Millerand TO act
independently of the allies with re-
spect to the Ruhr valley episode The
British declaration gave strength and
French government that had striven
for common action with the allies
and served to illuminate the French
mind on the dangers of allowing the
military party to cause a rift in the
councils Of the allies. something far
worse for France than the grievances
against Germany.
Great Britain Holds Diplomats
But with the United States merel,
an onlooker. Great Britain is com
pelled 10 hold things together in din.
Iomatic Europe Settlement of III,
Adriatic question helps bring italy to
the side Of Britain. and the cordialit,
OF the meetings in San Reno betweer
Premier Millerand and Prime Ministe,
LLOYD George is regarded here as
further evidence of the drawing 10.
sether OF the moral force and opinio,
OF the liberal elements as against ,he
militarists Of Europe,
Thus. while continental Europe uor
ries the British cabinet, home trouhIss
press even more vigorously for attan
, tion. The relations between can,,aI
and labor are demanding an adius,
ment and something must be don :.
prevent the economic waste invnl,
in the large estates untitled from &C.,
Grafton TO generation. And the Ir,nh
| TO day. Americas interest in the ~,
ter IN hardly Understood, but thor.
plenty OF domestic reasons compc,1fn.
England TO give autonomy to Irel,rd
IlopyriShl, 1920!