New-York tribune., 1921-12-03
Harding Erases
Myth That U. S.
Is Dictatorial
Observer Sees i'm President S
Intimacy With All Ma
tons Newspaper Men am
End of 'Imperialistic' Idea
very Hospitable Hermit
Attitude Here Declared To
Be Willingness to Help
if Allies Get Together
BY P. w. Wilson

if Allies Get Together
BY p. w. Wilson
For gears American correspondent of
"The London Daily Neses" and former
Member of Parliament.
Copyright. 1921. New York Tribune Inc.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.--To the sur
prise of Washington there was added
to-day for the foreign journalists the
strange and historic spectacle Of Presi-
dent Harding, the head of great mod
ern state, standing in room crowded
20 5ne doors with newspaper men, not
OF MS own nation only but of all the
countries represented at the con-
terence. French, British. Japanese.
Italians and Chinese rubbed shoulders
with their American colleagues and
seemed to share q common citizenship.
except IN the United States you would
never witness such a scene. 1t is only
mere tnat executive authority paws
such genial homage to public opinion
ana the press that molds public opin-
ION. VI the charming hospitality that
followed, when the President and Mrs.
Harding entertained the foreign press
men at tea, will say no more than that
tne gracious courtesy was deeply and
universally appreciated by the guests.
and not least by the ladies.
Foreign writer's are thus admitted
INTO the very intimacies of American
public life. No differences are drawn
between them, apparently and the citi-
zens OF this country itself. The presi-
dents words and his manner indicate
that such comradeship is according to
ms special personal desires. The myth
that the Upited States wishes to play
an lmperialistic and dictatorial part in
the world has been quietly dispellea
American militarism has been found To
be an illusion.
"HospitaOle Hermit;
indeed, there is not foreign CORE
spondent in ashiagton who would NOT
confess that he y ould like to see fine
United States less isolated and eyer-
clslng more influence in other CONT
nents than her own. The complaint
against this country is that she is too
much inclined to play the hermit-the
very hospltable hermit-when the world
needs her active assistance.
Naturally, the program indicated this
afternoon for Congress bears directlv
upon this point. For the first time in
Its annals ,, Congress will meet next
week with a worldwide gallery. Every
speech will be delivered, not to some
particular city or state of the Union,
but to Europe, to Asia, to Australia.
delegates are asking what Senator
Borah will say, how many supporters
ne VIII have behind him. and so on
american politics now confroits in
ssrnational politics face to face. The
meeting has always been inevitable,
and with the United States growing in
comparative power and wealth the
contact was bound to come
The fact that the European ndebt-
edness bill is to be pressed for an
early passage into law is of supreme
Importance to the Old World. 1t is
taken to mean that, in the new year,
there may be an economic conference
which will adjust and define these liza
bilities. The inability of the United
States hitherto to make clear her pre-
else attitude toward these loans has
created inconvenient uncertainties
among her Debtors. all of whom will
welcome frank discussion of the
whole problem involved.
"Automatic Bonus
l. On the other hand, the decision to
proceed with the revised tariffs will
awaken less enthusiasm, especially in
Canada, where American influence over
industry and finance has made great
strides of late against that of London.
Even in London the new tariff will
arouse echoes. The Treasury there
is arranging to pay S25o,GQo., 900
States loans to Britain. In addition, it
will be desired to liquidate the prin-
cipals of the loans by regular INSTALL
ments. We have in addition to finance
our large purchases of American cot
ton, wheat and metals, on which pur-
chases depends in no small measure
the prosperity of producers in this
country. Unless we are able to export
goods to the United States, either di-
able to render services by shipping it
is not easy to see how we caa maintain
both our purchases and our payments
of interest and principal on the loan.
Our bankers recognize that with the
sovereign worth only 81 and often less,
we enjoy an inducement to export
goods which amounts to a kind of
utomatic bonus. A dollar at spe
cially high value must draw commodi-
ties from all over the world.
Nor do we suggest that the proposed
schedules of customs duties, of which
at present we have no accurate knowl
edge, will result in exclusion of such
commodities. But we are bound to take
very seriously the prospect of bal
,ance sheet in which we may be called
upon to make heavy payments without
knowing where to find a currency in
which to finance the payments
AS to Quarrels Abroad
We assume that president Harding s
remark last week about association
of nations did not mean and was not
intended to mean that the United
States will be asked to join the league.
Apparently the attitude of the Presi-
dent, like that of Mr.. Balfour, inclines
to concentration upon the immediate
agenda before this conference. Prob
ably the future usefulness of the
United States in international affairs
will depend a good deal upon whether
Great Britain and France can compose
their divergences of outlook and of
temperament. This, at least, is one
view pressed upon foreign correspond
ents in unofficial conversation.
"I,et London and Paris get topether f"