Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-23
D|PLOMATSSTR|VE
| TO SOLVE HARDING
Having Hard Time to Learn
What May Be Expected on
Foreign Policy.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.

Foreign Policy.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
Diplomatic Washington is having a
ton for the various governments OF
the world on just what may be expect
ed from the Harding administration
in matters of foreign policy.
The folks who watch the fiuctu4-
tions Of the stock market from day to
day have a "cinch' compared to the
ambassadors and ministers who scru-
tinize the daily dispatches from Mar
ion or who seek by the subtle proc
esses of social companionship to elicit
the President-elect in the National
Capital fragment OF assurance as to
the future.
First the reports say the .machin-
cry of the present League is to be
maintained. Now the word comes
begun soon after MarSh4- with Great
Britain, France. Italyf and Japan, to
form "a new association" which shall
not be a political alliance, but a means
OF conference" on political questions.
The Hague tribunal Is spoken of as an
ts
diplomats think Mr.. Harding has that
organization in mind, but something
more flexible and, they believe, more
effective.
One Reason for Joy.
OF one thing Mr. Harding ought 10
be glad Hope springs eternal in the
breasts of the diplomats here that he
will evolve something that will bring
Europe and America CLOSE together.
The ambassadors and ministers are by
no means cynical or dispirited. Their
private conversations are tinged with
sincere hopefulRess even though they
observe every now and then inter-
Views with Messrs. Borah and Reed
saying America Will have absolutely
nothing to do with Europe on . po-
lttical alliance basis.
Tho truth 10 Europe,s Statesmen are
playing 4 cautious game with respect
to the Harding administration and
the moves that are being made are all
in the direction Of securing Ameri-
can cooperation. For instance:
European Moves.
I. Great Britain persuaded the other
powers At the Geneva meeting of the
assembly OF the leagueof nations that
it would be more. discreet to leave
the covenant unamended. SO that
America might be given an oppor-
tunity to express her viewpoint on
changes.
2. Argentina baked at this defer
ence to--America, not because Of any
unfriendly feeling to the United
States, but because Of a conviction
that the other nations of the world
ought to be big enough and inde-
pendent enough to organize a world
association themselves.
3. Canada's clamor for changes, es-
pecially on article X, il largely the
States, which has naturally over
flowed the northern border Of this
country, but basically Great Britain
is pleased at the independence Of
spirit shown by the Canadians. for it
would seem to dispose of the argu-
ment that the six votes of the Brit
ish colonies would always be cast
as a unit for England.
4. Prime Minister Lloyd Georges
speech in London to the delegates
who returned from the Geneva meet
ing is pointed explanation of Brit
ish policy. He says that there can
be no disarmament or effective world
organization without the United
States. This is construed here as
confirmation of the policy pursued
league itself were permitted out of
Difference to the Harding admins
tration.
Not Interested In Debates.
But Europe IS not interested in a
new debating society or new
paper organization, like The Hague
tribunal proved to be. Europe is
faced with economic problems that
demand settlement as an outgrowth
OF the Versailles treaty. What Europe
wants is American participation on
the reparatiOns commission which is
to fix the size of the German in
demnity and the assumption by the
United States of some responsibility
for bringing order out OF the DO
liticaI and economic chaos that ex-
lists at present in SO many parts of
Europe.
And the moment Europe discovers
that America means to play only q
nominal part in a world organization
reserving to herself all rights on all
questions. and assuming no obliea-
tions, the prediction is freely made
here that Europe will prefer the pres
ent league OF nations without the
United States to any new association
| ments and organizations which the
league OF nations has established. In
other words, Europe will wait for the
American terms, but will determine
for herself whether they are valuable
enough to discard the present league
No Guessea Haxarded.
| Diplomats thus far will not hazard
a guess. but the significant thing IS
that the big powers in the present
| league have virtually agreed to ac.
| cept American suggestions for care.
| full consideration and to endeavor te
convert the Harding administrator
to a closer participation in Europear
| affairs than the campaign speeche.
would seem to indicate. Failing ir
/ this. they will revert to their owr
organization in the league. which i.
unprecedented in that it furnishes tn.
big powers with An executive counci
and brings the smaller powers to
| gether in a body. with which th,
council of nations can at least dea
directly.
| The vital thing IS that diplomats d.
not look for a speedy settlement o,
| the controversy. The announcement n,
that negotiations win be begun wifi
the principal powers after March .
means at least a years exchange 4,
the cables are used. and at least si,
months Of conversation II confer
| ence Of diplomats is called. In eithe,
| event few dipIOmats exnect anv kinf