Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-22
EUROPE GROWS DISTRUSTFUL
.ASU U.S.LOSES PRESTIGE
Vioen Reaction Developed During Treaty Controversy Be-
comes Widespread-Publc Opinion Holds This
Nation Responsible for old Worlds Chaos

ognize that no pro- German influences
enter into the conflict between Presi-
dent Wilson and the Senate, they do
not hesitate to express their convic-
ton that Americas failure to ratify
the treaty has encouraged Germany to
adopt a truculent attitude toward the
Allies and re-enforced Prussian mill
tarism at the cost of German democ-
racy.
Americas withdrawal from the
peace. It is likewise pointed out has
delivered all the delicate problems of
! the new nationalities that owe their ex-
istence to the American ideal of self
determination into The juggling hands Of
secret diplomacy. Self determination.
which was to be a guarantee of world
peace. has thus degenerated into
source of sinister intrigues and warlike
complications.
In the same way the great ideals
of international brotherhood and social
justice proclaimed by President Wilson
in Europe infiamed the European work.
crs and their leaders with extreme ex-
, pectations, which inevitably resulted in
disappointment and bitterness and
helped to disintegrate the existing So
cial order and at least partly to pre-
cipitate the anarchic crisis through
which Europe is now passing.
Want United States Moral Support
All this nationalistic and social friC-
tion. which is promoting chaos and revo-
luton, might have been prevented if
America had signed the peace and in
vested it with the moral authority it
still fatally lacks.
This is the view Of Europeans sym
pathzing with American ideals, and
who hoped, and still family hope. that
America is destined to play a glorious
part in the establishment of world
peace. They realize clearly that the
American people shrink from being
drawn into the vortex of European in
trigucs and ambitions. and they do not
for moment expect Amefica to inter
vene with military force in future Euro
pcan conflicts.
But they had expected that America
would lend the immense prestige of her
moral support to the consolidation of
the new order in Europe, and they are
scanning the development of the presi-
dental campaign in the United States
with strained anxiety. What slight
hopes Of America they still entertain
are undoubtedly concentrated on the
possibility OF Mr.. Hooyer's nomination.
| Probably no American since Benjamin
Franklin has been so popular in Europe
as Mr.. Hoover Victors and vanquishcd
| alike regard him with feelings of CON
/ fidencc and gratitude. They know he
| is a real American, with all an Ameri-
| cans generosity, but also with all his
! contempt for incompetence and idle
/ ness
If they hope that he will be the next
President of the United States. it is
not because they imagine his foreign
policy will be altrustic, but because
they believe he possesses all the quail
ties of intellect and character needed
to shape the now era of mankind that
! is dawning in America as well as in
Europe, and on whose course the fate
Of both continents depends.
Wild Rumors Of Imperialism
Not all Europeans. however, regard
! Americas attitude so calmly: in less
enlightened quarters it has engendered
fantastic rumors most damaging to the
American reputation. have heard men
! of prominent position in the capitals of
! Europe gravely assert, with every ap-
pcarance of good faith. that the reluc.
tance of the United States to join the
League Of Nations is due to vast i'm
!
than American world domination
America, it is said. is scheming TO
conquer first Mexico, then to fight Japan
! for the economic control OF China. and
finally to engage in supreme struggle
with England for the empire of the
world The League of Nations stands
in the way of these gigantic ambitions
and therefore America will have none
Of it!
Preposterous as they are, these wild
tales find credenco in Europe. where liz.
noranCe of American politics is still the
rule, and they serve to intensity the
hatred of America, which is increasing
to quite a fanatical degree as the peril
and sufferings of the different European
peoples increase. The old ignorant anti
American spirit is reyiYing which was
temporarily--and should have been
de6nitely-dissipated by Americas un.