The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1920-11-19
AMERICAS DIFFICULT STAND
FOR AMERICA IN WORLD
AFFAIRS

(Which apparently has become another
Of Lord Northclitfe's subsidiaries
made a strong appeal in behalf Of NJ"
Wilson's League of Nations. ever
going so far as to support England IN
her claim to six votes in the business
of the council to one for America. II
commenting upon this phase OF the
Senate's objections to the League, this
magazine states:
these opponents of dominion votes
knew that the privilege to vote repre-
scented not an increase in power Tor
the British Empire but an increase in
self-government by the British Domin-
ions who wished a direct opportunity
for expression on foreign affairs. They
wished this because they could con
ceive Of situations in which they might
disagree with the British Empire. Mr..
Lodge knew that these six votes in the
Council were no more binding on Us
than one would have been in that body.
Yet their conception Of our relation
to the world i such that they wish Us
to tell Canada, Australia, New Zea-
land. and South Africa ,hat We would
rather be associated in a deliberate
body on an equality with Costo Rica.
ITon 9negro. Honduras, or any other
infn!tasimal state, than with them"
This is truly the English view of
the situation. True indeed. it sounds
musical to the untutored ear, but i
reads too much akin to the propaganda
which is being disseminated by all the
49, L~-,-1,-I ~,,tAl;ao1- -, h,oorioa
and there are many of them. 1t must
lie a happy mind that can view Eng
land as giving to any Of her dominions,
an increase of self-government. We
disagree with this magazine in ques-
ton in that England's policy toward
her colonies is too well known to adj
judge her as rendering any concessions
which would make her subjects more
independent.
There seems to be a mark Of neon
sistency in England's noble humane
stand" 1t would appear that if a
whole lot Of "self government" is good
for Canada and the rest Of the Brit
ISL colonies-a little Of the same lux
ury ought not to hurt Ireland.
Then, if England's stand is so much
along lines of Humanity in her plea
for the League of Nations there should
be no reason why one vote for
each empire and each nation should
not be sufficient. If the League is so
purely moral in its support, there
ought to be no objection to Costa Rica,
Montenegro, Honduras, or any of the
rest of these infentisimal nations hay
ing equal voice with the rest in the
affairs of this great council. II Eng
land has become so suddenly magnan-
imous and religiously humane, there
can be no just reason for six votes to
the credit of the British Empire and
one for some others.
The magazine in question states
further:
"If when the Lusitania went down
MIR. Wilson had not been so much in
the frame Of mind that his opponents
are now, the war well might have been
finished in 1916 or 1917. Mr.. Lodge
then urged for action. He now opposes
an arrangement to insure such action
IN the future. The gist of his argu-
ment is that all European settlements
must be made to fit with American
opinion (Which may be subject to
change without notice. and that ever
when so made we insist that the set
Elements be guaranteed by everyone
u US, Tor IN no case must we assume
any responsibility. The American peo-
pie are neither this selfish, this fear
1ul, nor this picayune. The President
ana Mr.. Lodge have done much 20
make our entry into world affairs as
ilmplng and unimpressive as possible.
a combination Of high flourishes and
dlscordant notes. We shall have to
take this philosophically. 1t will moi
keep us from doing our part in the
long run: 1t merely makes the start
more difficult"
When the Lusitania went down,
America from an Americans view
point, had her first great call to war.
Wan should have been declared then,
and it is possible that such would have
been the case, had it not been for the
possibilities of that slogan, "He kept
us out of war" Mr.. Lodge and the 9th
er Republican Senator's rightly urged
for action at that time, and their stand
on this particular League CONTROVERSY
does by no means hamper such
possible future action on the part of
America. 1t is not necessary that the
United States become a part of anv
bona fide alliance with England in Or
der that it be possible for America to
in the future defend her own interna-
tional rights. At any rate, it would
appear that if any such agreement be
entered upon, utmost discretion should
be exercised as to the nature of such.
The fact is, that when President Viii.
son took upon himself the entire re-
sponsibility for the affairs of the Uni
ter States, he possibly had plans,
which had they materialized, might
have been of untold benefit to the Uni
ted States, as well as every other ma
ton in the world. But Mr.. Wilson was
eut-diplOmated by British statesmen.
Back in 1774 the United States was
successful in martialling herself out
from under England's yoke. AS a
nation the United States has lived and