Evening star., 1921-10-30

armament in the allied countries. and
in general, and largely as the result
of the foregoing processes, to restore
IA condition of greater confidence
which will admit Of the giving Of
credits to enable some of the coun-
tries most desperately situated to
turn the corner and get away from
the excessive issue Of paper money.
But our people are likely to ask
the question. What interest or op,
legation has the United States in all
these things"
'The United States has both a prac-
tical interest and a moral duty In
these matters.
! "Its practical interest has been
strikingly emphasi sized recently by va
rious comments of American business
men and particularly by the express
sions of the United States Chamber
of Commerce. which has sugses.eu
how fully our business opportunities
and even our problem OF unempioy-
ment are involved in these world
wide difficulties.
Our moral interest and duty arse
primarily out of the fact that we
have a supreme opportunity 10 ,eau
the world in peace; country "hlcn
has that opportunity Is under graVest
obligation to utilize 1t to the utmost
Our opportunity is unparalleled.
ssy11HILE we are rightly Interested
" from a practical standpoint In
the solution of all problems "hlch
affect the world, we are wonderfully
free from direct interest in most OF
those which are most puzzling at the
present time. This gives US an atti-
tude of comparative detachment ht-
ting us to act as an adviser whose
advice will be received and considered
in friendly spirit.
This was illustrated by the cor
diality with which my own decisions
have been'received by all the nations
Interested, despite their connictlng
interests and their intense antago-
nisms.
that was a citizen Of the United
States and, therefore, honestly couid
assume that attitude of complete de-
tachment which only the Unlted
States and it's citizens can nave IN
these times.
For instance, the most recent OF
my decisions settled disputes long
standing as to the right and title to
the great fleet of tugs and barges on
the Danube river. one of Europes
most important waterways. france
Germany, Austria. Czechoslovakia.
JuEoslavia, Rumania and Bulgaria all
were involved in the conflicting inter-
ests which concerned them. am
satisfied that if these various nations
had endeavored to settle these dis
'putes by direct negotiations they
would have taken on political aspects
and would have become causes OF
grave discord.
Instead, submitted to citizen OF
the United States. with all the coun-
tries feeling that he approached the
matter from a disinterested stand
point, the disputes have ended in
decisions received with the most
gratifying cordiality, although each
one of them required some one OF
the involved nations to give up to
another some important element OF
its fleet.
This situation of disinterestedness
is not a reason why the United States
should feel at liberty to stand aloof,
declaring, I am not my brothers
keeper On the contrary. it is the
very reason why this country should
endeavor to find ways whereby 1t may
|extrLd that help which only 1t can
give.
mot only should this country help
by giving its advice. but it should aid
also by its example.
Its greatest opportunity to fur
nish such an example will be at the
conference at Washington, where ii
can lead in the adoption Of an atti
tude of reasonableness and liberality
concerning questions of policy and in
the making of such proposals with
regard to Limitation of armament as
other nations may feel themselves
unable to advance. though they might