Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-16
Sullivan Says
Economic Conference
Not on Program
BY MARK SULLIVAN
National Political Correspondent O
the New York Evening Post


the New York Evening Post
Washington. December 15.-Another
conference, an economic one, is in the
air. There can't be much doubt about
that. Even the least sophisticated
person must have learned to read the
signs when that occasionally service
able hand-maiden, the newspaper, is
called into the ante-rcom of diplomacy,
and we see cautiously vague dis
patches from London, to the effect that
the British capital has heard 'rumors
of an international economic confer
ence at Washington"
Now rumors. as rule. are subject
TO that same law that has been ex-
pressed in the epigram, things don't
happen; they are brought about" In
the present case, it is safe to say the
rumor is invented for the purpose of
being heard, and heard in the right
place. In the present instance the
right place is Washington. The par
ticular dispatch in the present case
goes on to say that, while lit is not
assumed that such conference has
been decided on" nevertheless the sue
cess of the armament conference mas
aroused hopes that the economic
troubles of Europe may be settled by
similar gathering"
There is q discreet reference to
vague reports that Lloyd George and
BRAND intend to go to Washington to-
gethcr' The London Times IS quoted
as saying: "The suggestion is hazard
George might not deem the moment in
opportunc to lay the whole question oc
the needs of shattered Europe before
President Harding. who undoubtedly
has the warmcst sympathy for the
stricken Continent The London
Daily Telegraph is quoted as saying
that "any American initiative would
be welcomed with enthusiasm"
Finally, in this same dispatch from
London, the Morning Post is quoted
to the effect that such a conference.
if participated in by America, would
be a welcome development"
A Phase Of "DipIomatic FeeIer"
All this. let the reader understand,
constitutes ore variation of that vcr-
satile and complex process that goes
on under the name of diplomatic
feelers." The plain fact is that Lon
don wants an economic conference.
that the British Ministers will search
their papers carefully the next morn
ing to see what the dispatches back
from Washington will describe as the
reaction to the suggestion of an eco
nomic conference"
If the writer were asked to give the
answer. he would try to express what
ever he has learned to be the WASH
ington attitude on the idea of an econ
omic conference. Within that field, in
the first place the fact is that the
American authorities have frequently
said in an unofficial and indirect way
that no step whatever towards an Geo.
Eomic conference will be taken until
the present armament conference has
been finished SUCCESSFULLY. A few
months ago, the same sor. OF inspired
"feeler" was put out from London,
with the idea of having economic
matters added to the agenda OF the
present conference. On that occasion
the answer from Washington was
courteously hut emphatically to the
effect that there was nothing DOING;
armament limitation must be a sue,
cess. and everybody must contribute
Fundamentally to that success before
any consideration would be given to
suggestions of an economic conference
In the second place, and with slight
~ less confidence, the present writer
would report as the attitude Of Wash
ington that as regards an economic
conference, Europe must take the in.-
tiative and rot America. / say this
with less confidence. because a prudent
newspaper man has learned that the
attitude of statesmen frequently, and
something quite properly and neces-
sarily. changes with the progress OF
events. / have the best ground for
saying that this has been the attitude
OF Washington until within a few
days. 1t might be changed easily by
possible changes in public feeling or
by other events.
The one sure limit to what Hard
ing is likely &c do is the limit Of what
would be approved by the United
States Senate and the American peo-
pie. Within that Limitation. President
Harding is not likely to take the ini-
tiative for an economic conference in
which Eurppa has SO much Larger =