The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-03-17
HOOVER HAS
CHANGE OF VIEWS
Now FavorS U. S. Being Rep
resented on Reparation
Commission.
LETTER or EXPLANATION

New York. March 17.--Herbert
Hoover today issued a statement in
which he said he had modified his
opinion. Expressed IN a letter to Pres
idcnt Wilson last April, that the United
states should OF be represented on the
various boards provided to enforce
peace Ia Europe. He now favors this
country having q representative on
the Preparations commission IN order
that American interests may he pro-
tected He protests against the pub
lication az his letter 10 President will
son on the ground that IL was not is-
sued from the White House and he had
not consented 10 It's publication.
Text OF HooVer'G Letter.
The statement follows:
II have seen IN some OF this morn
ing's papers copy OF a memorandum
OF mine that was prepared in the course
OF the peace conference on the subject
of our participation IN the large NUM-
her OF international commissions set un
IN Europo As to the Views expressed
IN the memorandum they were later on
modified as TO the particulars OF our
having q representative on the repara :
tion commission itself because OF the
large economic control finally given to
II over great part of Europe and the
States to be represented thereon at
once In order 70 protect American In
terests
''Regardlcss Of any personal point OF
view In this matter there is to me noth-
ing chat Is such n breach OF good taste
among government officials as for them
to issue 20 the press correspondence
that may have passed between them
and their superiors IN the course OF
their service without approval on both
sides. ! am Informed II was not issued
ta Ia
necessary for me to say that II was
not released by me and that a search
ing inquiry IN my own office satisfies
me that 1t has not come from my stan T"
la his letter 70 President Wilson pub
lished today Mr. Hoover expressed OPP
position 10 the continuance OF the
United States as q member OF tho vari-
Gus commissions set up under the peace
treaty saving that such allied relation
ship could only lead to vast Difficulty
and initiate p"ninst the league OF ma
tions. Representation of tho United
States on the commissions he said
would mean the country lending itself
to tho political and financial interests
or other governments during peace "a
situation that must be entirely repulsiVe
10 our national interests, traditions aud
ideals He added that he was not
sure That the revolution In Europe was
over and that "our people arc not pre-
pared for tis 10 undertake the military
policing of Europe while II boils itself
out"
Tho letter concluded;
"It grows upon me daily that the
United states lR the one great moral
reserve in the world today and that
we cannot maintain that Independence
OF action through which this reserve u
10 be maaiitalned II we allow ourselves
TO be AluEged into detailed Enropeal
entsnr3 Fhiani over u.s3peplod " years
/ In my View. II the allies ran be brought
10 hdopt peace on the basis of the four
tean points. we should retire iron
Europe, lock, stock and barrel. nnd We
shouid lend to the whole world oul
economic and moral strength or the
world will swim IN sea of misery and
disaster. worse than the dark office
satisfies ages II they cannot nc
brought to accept peace on this basis
our national honor Ia at stake and we
should have to make peace independ'
entity and retire"