The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-08-29
SIR AUCKLAND GrDprs.

SIR AUCKLAND GEDDfS
Speaking before the American bar nssocia-
ton at st Louis, Sir Auckland Geddos British
ambassador at washington. said. among other
things;
Great Britain and tho United States
are co.trustees for humanity. II
the democratic idea Is to continue without
o serious setback We people who believe IN
II will have to stand firmly together for
there are powerful forces opposed to It,,
The Asiatios and lslams are necessarily op-
posed to IT,"
That is a very remarkable statement; largely,
too because OF It's utter franknesB In II is
contained the germ that has raised merry hell
with the world at recurring periods through
out its existence. the germ OF the world -domin-
ion concept
However prideful II may sound to assert
world-trusteeship for England and America a
moments analysis discioses that behind It Is
precisely the same idea that drove tho kalsers
satellites forth In quest OF world dominion.
They self-constituted themselves the chosen
OF God TO spread kultur into the remote cor
ner's OF the earth.
But they never were able to show them
selves properly credeutialod for their self-im-
posed task. Nor can Britain and the. United
States, should we agree to the Junior partner
ship the imperial ambassador has so consider
ately bestowed upon us.
II has been the British idea, for time i'm
memorial that hers was the trusteeshp for
humanity The word mandatory" was coined
easement against the cutting charges OF
imperialism. Bat II Is only within very recent
years that she has been willing to consider
my nation member of the trusteeship oven as
A Junior partner
How strange, how utterly hypocritical. the
high-sounding mouthings of English statesmen
at Versailles. concerning "sclf-determinatlon OF
subject peoples" the right OF small states."
and the 'inalenable right OF every people TO
develop in their own way"
Because II these doctrines mean anything at
all they most certainly do mean that the AS
iatics and Islams" have as much right to their
conception OF humanity as has the British en-.
pire or the United States to their conceptions
OF humanity.
There is nothing In the democratic idea.
as it is understood by Americana vastly diff
ferent conception Of it. however, from the
imperial British viewpoint--that justlties the as
sumption OF trusteesshp for humanity.
The cardinal principle OF democracy is the
liberty 1t grants to others It is not cocrcive
assumes no sanctimonious superiority nor seeks
to impose Its views on any unwilling TO
receive them
Democracy is mind your own business
and-let-the other fellow mind hts affair.
There are those Americans who will applaud
the Geddes sophistry For ourselves we take
great pleasure in instantly repudatng il as
insolent presumption not unmixed with patron
izing vulgarity
The Asiates nni Isams can have any kind
OF government that meets their approval The
United States and United states citizens nre
trustees only for American interests and ins,l-
tuttons. They have never yet felt tho divine
call TO so out and ram their culture or insti,u-
urns down a helpless peoples throat at tho
point OF a bayonet Yet they will fight like
devils In defense Of their own.
II is interesting however to see how calmly
and with what faith England's high representa-
tiyos cling to the league a trustee for peace.