New Britain herald., 1921-03-12
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.

 tions' policy. on the face of things it might be said that the people of this country suffer from the same un- certainty.
 It is too carly in the terms of the various men who will formulate that policy tor criticism that this uncer- tainty exists. Ail WIG know is that man running on the platform of the League of Nations was defeated by one who was opposed to the present league at least. and who refused to bind himself to an advocacy of any, thing further than an association" of nations-whatever that might have meant.
 Since that time President Harding has asserted that we cannot inject anything militaristic into whatever arrangement is made for a closer re- lationship with other nations. At least we may say that he has not be- come any more favorable disposed toward tho League.
 President Harding. Secretary of State Hughes. Senator Lodge and Elihu Root will be the men who will formulate our foreign policy. There is absolute necessity for some agree ment between the United States and our recent associates in the war. of course. This necessity becomes more pressing because of the situation in regard to Germany. We cannot keep the absurd theory of being officially a war with country officially at peace with those former associates of ours. And yet. at the moment, when steps are being taken by the Allies to en- force the terms of the treaty we can not properly make peace with the country which refuses to abide by the terms of treaty with the nations whose associates we were.
 With the greatest respect for Presi- dent Harding and with full recogm- ton of his ability. straightforward ness and eagerness to serve the best interests of the country. it may be said that his own. personal opinion will be less of a factor in determining our future foreign reIations than the opinions of Hughes, Lodge and Root. Possibly 1t is a compliment to him to put the situation thus as it presup- poses his willingness to be influenced by the minds of men such as the other. mentioned.
 Secretary Hughes. however tech nically inclined. possesses the ability to reason from cause to effect, so necessary in a great lawyer. He must see that the association suggested by President Harding must take more definite form in order to accomplish anything. There must be teeth in whatever agreement is formed-and teeth" involve the consideration of the possibility of war.
 MT. Root has gone on record as fla voring the establishment of an asso- ciation based on the present League. He, older than Secretary Hughes and now nt a time of life and activity which permits him to look beyond the narrow, technical law regarding cor poration activities and such smaller matters. may have given full sway to that vision of what must come event ually. This vision is undoubtedly the inspiration of his stand.
 President Harding and Senator Lodge will have their vision dimmed, probably. by the screen of politics through which they have been look ins for many years.
 If one could sec into their hearts it is believed that Secretary Hughes and MT. Root will he not unharmon- iously lined up against President Harding and Senator Lodge, the first two tending to make the bond be- tween the United states and other na- lions much closer than the President and the Senator from Massachusetts. The first two would dare more: the Inst two would have their courage bIunted by political beams in the eyes.
 "Expediency" may rule, but it is to be hoped that the vision. tempered