The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-12-24
Mr., HARDING HAS
FOREIGN DIPLOMATS
GUESSING ON POLICY
nv DAVID LAWRENCE
(Copyrtght By the mtelhgsncSr)

WASHINGTON. Dec. IS. Diplomatic
Washington Is having hard time get
ting accurate information FOR the vari-
Gus governments of the world on Just
what may DO expected from the Hard
ing administration in matters or Tor
eign policy.
The fblks who watch the fluctuations
oS.,hn stock market from day to day
have "cinch" compared TO the am
bass.dors and ministers vno scCu''i
,ized the daily dispatches from MaE'ot.
or who seek by the subtle processes "a
so-called companionship TO ehr't al lne
many supposed intinates oi tne @
dent-elect in the national carltal rag
nent OF assurance as 10 the huSue'. huSuhe'
LYrs, ,ba r,Dorts say the machinery
~ thS preseut LEAGUE IS 70 be main
,.,lnad Now th- word comes tnat dip
Inpatic eSchs rg"s uTe 10 be begun soon
ay,cr March with Great Britain
France. Italy aud Japan to form ne"
,ssociation' witch shall not be a po-
utIcai alliance, hut means or con-
ference' on political questions. The
uague tribunal is spoken or as an e1-
ample OF what Is sought. nut t"w dip-
.omats think Mr.. Harding has that or
sanlZation in mind. but something more
dsxible and. they believe. more euec-
sive.
Hope Springs Eternal.
OF one thing Mr.. Harding ought 10 ne
clad. Hope springs eternal IN tho
breoS,s of tho diplomats here that no
will evolve something that Will bring
Europe and America close together. Tho
1mba ssadors and ministers are Toy N"
means cynical or dispiritcd. Their pri-
vate conversations are tinScd with sim
cere nopefulness, even though they OBJ
serve every now and then interviews
with McsSrS. Borah and Reed, saying
America will have absolutely nothing
20 do with Europe on political alliance
basis.
The truth is Europe's statesmen are
playing a cautious game with rcspec;
10 the Harding administration, and tho
moves that are being made arc all in
the direction OF securing American CO.
operation. For instance:
. l-GreRt Britain persuaded the other
powers at the Geneva meeting OF the
assembly OF the league Of nations that
X would bo more discreet TO leave tho
covenant unamended SO that America
might DO given an opportunity 10 eS-
press her Viewpoint on changes.
$-Argeptina baIksd at this deference
IS feeling to the United States. but be-
cause OF 4 conviction that the other
nations OF the world ought 10 be big
enough and Independent enough TO Or
ganlze a world association themselves.
3--Canada's clamor for changes, es-
peciauy on article 10. is largely the
result OF the discussion in tho United
States, which has naturally orertowed
~ fhiR
but basically Great Britain is pleased
ut the independence OF spirit shown by
the Canadians, tor II would seem TO
dispose of the argument that the SIX
notes OF the British colonies would
always be cast as n unit for England.
. I--Prims Minister Lloyd Georges
Soeech in London 70 the delegates who
returned from the Geneva meeting Is
= pointed expIanati ton Of British policy.
He says that there can DC no disarma-
mcnt or effective world organization
without the United states. This -
construed here as confirmation OF the
rolicy pursued at Geneva. where no
changes In the league itself wer" per
uItted out of Differences 20 tho Harding
administration.
want q. s. Participation
But Europe Is not interested IN
new debating society or newspaper
organization like The Hague tribunal
proved TO be. Europe Is faced with
economic problems that demand settle
nent as an outgrowth Of the Versailles
treaty What Europe wants is Amerl-
,an participation on the rcparations
commission which Is TO tlN the size of
the German indemnity. and the as
sumption by the United states OF some
responsibility for bringing order out ol
tho political and economic chaos that
..xists At present in 50 many parts OF
Europe.
And the moment Europe discovers
that America means 10 play only
nominal part IN a world organization.
deserving to herself all rights on ali
luestions and assuming no obligations.
me prediction is freely made here that
Europe will prefer the present league
,f nations without the United states
TO any now association which disturos
the political arrangements and organ
iZations which tho league OF nations
las established. In other words. Eu-
rope Will wait for tho American terms,
hut will determine for herself whether
they are rsluable enough to discard
he present league.
DIPLOMATS thus far will not hazard
, guess but tho significant thing is
that the big powers In the present
league have virtually agreed to accept
American suggestions for careful con-
stderatior and TO endeavor 10 convert
the Harding administration 10 closer
participation in European aTatrs than
the campaign speeches would seem TO
indicate. Failing in this. they VIII re-
vert to their own organization in the
league which Is unprecedented in that
Il furnishes the big powers with an
executive Council and brings tho smaller
movers together into a body with which
he council Of nations can at least deal
directly.
The vital thing is that diplomats do
not look for a speedy settlement OF
.he controversy The announcement
hat negotiations will be begun with
the principal powers after March
means at least years exchanges II
The cables are used and at least six
months OF conversation II n conference
II diplomats Is called. In either event,
Few diplomats expect any kind Of de-
clsion for another year or more