The Washington herald., 1921-07-03

pSfhASeA eANhOu6h IL 10
true that personal rivalries. SQUAD
bles and treacheries underlie this
situation, yet It is much larger than
that in causes and consequences.
This impending downfall Of the
coalition government in England, or
at least this regrouping OF parties
and peoples. is due to a general
change Of spirit and to mighty
forces in world affairs.
Politicians and their little careers
are like straws which show the
There are deep waters moving
strongly n and beyond the British
Empire. The spirit OF the people
IL astir. dema ndIng security OF life
and liberty In their way OF COVER
nance, RELIEF from overburdening
taxation and a fair reward for hare
work; peace across their frontiers.
honesty and Justice between classes
and nations. and new leadership
which will give them those things
and safeguard the future from the
menace OF new and CHASTITY wars.
So far they are not satisfied. They
gave their leaders their Snance, and
the leaders did not take It.
In England. anyhow. there 10 a
general belief that ever since the
ending of the war there has been an
utter failure to fulfll any Of those
promises, a most dismal abandon
ment OF the ideals OF peace and JUS
tice and q most cynical disregard
OF national interests and interna-
tional wisdom. Our economic policy
has swung violently from prodigal
waste to savage attacks on rates
and wages; from wild extravagsnce
TO false economy, without any
guiding law of life by which all
clssses should cooperate in COM
mon sacrifice and common striving.
Results Appalling.
The result is shown in the dis
astrous conflict between capital and
labor and the paralysis in trade.
Our foreign policy has led us into
vast expenditure and has failed
to pacify Europe or to reconstruct
Its hnalcial ruin. Our policy to-
wards ireland. IL looked at from any
point OF view, has been disastrous
in its lack OF real statesmanship.
England now demands a new pro-
gram. 1t IL insisting on different
methods and better results. 1t In this
ising tide OF impstience. this pas
sion OF disgust with present condi-
tions. which "a making politicians
of all parties and groups run about
| like mice In n cage when the door
is opened to the cat.
what IL happening in England Is
beginning TO happen elsewhere.
Many peoples in many lands are
asking for reformation OF methods
and morals between classes and ma
| tions. The imperial conference in
London has not been without effect
on English statesmen. Men likv
Smuts. Massey and Meighan have
been talking frankly in private as
we'll as In public. and they have
been saying some very strsignt
| things
They are not interested in the ca
reers OF party politicians. They are
much more interested in the welfare
OF their dominions and the future OF
the worlds policy. From their geo
graphical position they are able to
realize certain problems with a more
intimate sense OF reality than are
statesmen over here. to whom these
| problems seem remote and unusual.
smuta Hands Ont jolt.
Gen. Smuts gave a jolt to our
Imagination when he said that
| Europe no longer mattered very
much in relation 10 world power and
that the Pacific would be the scene
OF the next great drama in human
history. I know nothing OF the
secret influences and the pressure at
work behind behind the AnClo-Jap-
anese alliance. which will shape the
FIRST act OF that new drama. but !
know that all ordinary people in
England are utterly convinced that
a great crime will he done IL a new
alliance is established in any way
| with Japan which does not have the
full approval Of the American peo-
pie.
On the other hand. they believe
that this is a test case OF the world~
! hopes for an era Of peace based on
International Justice and agreement.
r. America. ENGLAND and Japan can
establish a friendly understanding
not hurtful 20 one or another of
them. and not based on naval rival
ries or on common greed at the
expense Of other people. then we
hope for gradual disarmament and
some permanent peace everywhere.
therwise the cockpit Of Europe
will only he changed for other
spheres OF strife.
1t is that decision above all others
which will mark out this week as
memorable in the history of man.
! kind, but as ! have hinted. These
days are filled with a tide OF public
opinion which is running strongly y
towards new harbors OF hope.
| Copyright 1871 By the Bell Syndicate, Inc }
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