The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-08-16
Great Britain

Sunday.
creasngy appreciate the value OF having the view
points of both of these trained nonoca authorities
On international affairs. Nothing is more import
mt to Americans than the attitude OF Great Britain
toward this country, the guiding public opinion OF
that people, the status of the British government
and the influences which are directing its poheies.
With abe disarmament conference less than three
months in the future il is clearly essential that
public opinion in the United States should come to
il without illusions, prejudices or advanced false
conclusions
: Among all the uncertainties one thing is sure
There will not be an alliance nor an entente be-
tween these two countries. This is more expected
in Great Britain consequence of the conference,
than it Is here. Great Britain would welcome it;
would consider it logical conclusion and so desires
it. But the British have no false Illusions
They are less given these than are Americans.
They have vastly more of international experience
and do not waste time hugging decisions. 1t is not
alliances nor ententes which will come from the
conference, but international policies. Accepted
policies have more the nature of international law
than of alliances. They may be expressed in
treaties but just all treaties they become the law
OF the countries concerned but idea, or OBJ
legation of union or of united obligation.
Moreover, our relations with Great Britain can
no longer be regarded as with the British Isles
alone. That day has gone, never to return. Great
Britain is now an imperial federation. 1t is COM
nlonwealth of practically equal governments. No
one should discuss British opinion British relations
or British government without including in the
mental picture, the empire which has become
federation Or as Gibbs puts it, the father with FIVE
stalwart sons who Join in all decisions family at
fairs.
The British Isles, if alone, might have to seek
alliances But its alliance with FIVE great common
wealths each of four of them extensive in area
as the United States, and possibly rich in natural
resources, makes a very different situation The
United States may become isolated; but not the
British commonwealth. There was time before
her sons grew up, when Great Britain needed Far
East alliance. That when Germany was in the
hcyday of her military and naval proves and
when Russia was great and uncertain power. She
requires neither alliance entente there now, but
in common with all the world, including the United
States she does need agreement on international
roliCies full and friendly international understand
iag and her moral forces need the support OF the
moral forces OF other nations just as do our own
Possibly this could come for all readily,
more easily and logically through the league OF
rations, where such conferences as that To open
November II, would be of course, and matters not
settled at the one meeting would merely be unhn-
ished business. 1t is large bite which is prepared
ior this conference to chew at one meal. But so
al Col. Harvey has said, unless the conference, in
It's infinite wisdom like the supreme council, which
vas rated as indeed supreme in wisdom, refers to
the league what it is unable to decide. This would
hardly be more OF sarcasm OF destiny.
4 As it is it is still mighty hard for those who
have always thought and vsaged in terms of war,
not still to do SO. They war, because they
think war. They cannot get rid of the habit of be-
lieving war inevitable and the next war" is as
> - Lo,,a
they any patience with difference to this. Yet
they and such as they the agency, and the only
agency, which will bring threatens war. If they
arc right then disarmament is folly, and the only
sane course is to arm to the teeth and scare the
other fellow. Yet they might hav learned at least,
that power rests less in battleshps and stand
ing armies than in financial and industrial power
md that no nation whose people at work and
contented, have any desire for war.
Z AS for war with Great Britain, it could not be
With the British Isles alone 1t would be equally
With Canada, with Australia, South Africa and New
Zealand. The United States would have to be
wrong, bull-head, unjust and manfestly unfair to
bring on such war. II this conference through
lack of mutual, Anglo-American moral support
through the inability of the greater Great Britain
and the United States to hold to common view
point should ALLEVIATE our government from the
sympathy and friendliness of the domnions,
ritish-Japanese alliance aimed at this country,
might result Then the United States would be iso-
lated or forced to look for alliance, and that else
where We are not yet as great the rest of the
world our navy does not and never will equal that
OF the British and Japanese and we cannot expect
to force our will on all others, whether But
to draw so long draft on the imagination as
possible Angio-American war, is pure gratuity to
evil and we can not help Secretary Hughes that
way.
z We gather from the extremely delicate sit