Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-07-20
ADMINISTRATION is WORKING
ON ITS PLAN FOR AN Asso-
CITATION OF NATIONS.
PEOPLE ASKING FOR ACTION
Not Even an Outline Has Yet Been
Put in Writing, But Secretary
Hughes Has Been Busy in the HAT
ter.
BY EDWARD q. CLARK.

I indications OF rather specific nature
I that such Is 10 be the case.
There are evidences In Washington
that there Is not so strong a desire
today as in the immediate past To give
so definitive a name as the "Associa-
I tiOn OF Nations" 10 the plan which
I the President and his secretary of
state have I'm view. Whatever the
I policy I'm connection with foreign af-
fairs Is to be. il is understood that
/ Secretary Hughes today is working on
the matter with certain ends i'm view.
From time TO time letters have come
10 Washington from various parts of
the country. most of them going TO the
4 White House. asking If something Is
10 be done soon with matter which
has occupied the people in one way or
another ever since the armistice was
signed. II is held here that the evil
dent interest of the country, as shown
In letter form. Is not responsible at
all for the evident quickening impulse
on the part of the officials to do some
thing. IL Is declared that their de-
termination to act was fixed some
time ago and that action simply was
waiting on what seemed TO be the
proper time.
The United States senate holds men,
bers who are kindly disposed toward
an association of nations of the kind
which President Harding more than
Z limited at I'm his speech of acceptance
I OF the nomination. There are a few
Republican senators who do not want
an association of nations any more
than they want the League of Nations.
Then there is another group of sena-
tors Republicans for the main part.
who want something done in the way
OF a foreign policy which viii bring
the United States into accord with its
recent allies. but they are not quite
sure just what form the plan should
take on.
Hughes Making Some Progress.
II Is admitted directly in high quar-
ters that nothing has yet been put on
paper TO outline, or even 10 suggest an
outline. OF an association of nations
plan. This does not mean. however,
that mentally a plan has not been
formulated. Mr.. Hughes has been
more or less busy in the matter and
II Is known that some OF the greater
foreign nations have teen questioned
with a view OF finding out whether
or not they would be willing 10 become
parties 10 an association of nations
along certain lines, even II fits forming
virtually should mean n Reputation
OF the present League Of Nations.
Now that 1t is known that other
nations have been felt out on this
subject. interest has been expressed
In Washington as 20 why the feeling
OUT should have been done without
submitting with the queries some
thing concrete concerning the plan in
mind. The general impression is. how
ever. that the communications to the
foreign Offices of other countries sim
ply have been in the form of intima-
tons that the United States would
Ike TO do something II the other ma
lions eventually would give the prop,
osition consideration.
To some Washington officials II
seems like a work of supererogatiOn
on the part OF the state department
70 ask other nations whether they will
give consideration 10 a proposition
pmananting from the United States.
No nation would decline 10 promise
TO think over any matter which the
United States should submit.
Hope fer German Treaty Soon.
20 ha N 81
here that as soon as the Knox resolu-
ton, or its substitute. is adopted, de-
claring that a state of peace exists
with Germany. and a treaty has been
effected with the German government,
the American administration viii inn
medlately proceed with its association
F OF nations plan. The hope OF the high
officials seems TO be that there will
not be much more delay in the work
Of getting the resolution and the trea-
" out Of the way.
In must be confessed. however, that
there Is n cloud Of DOUBT hanging over
the future foreign relations situation.
II Is being asked whether IL an as
soc,ation of nations shall be formed.
II viii be necessary absolutely for 9th
or nations 10 leave the present league
90 which they have given sanction.
II is held by some members of the
dominant party that any association
OF nations plan which can be accepted
must keep whole existing provisions
In the Versailles treaty which are In
tended lo make II certain that Ger
many cvr fulfill her obligations. OF
course Il Is possible that this can be
done In a way through the treaty OF
peace between the United States and
/ Germany. but il is held also that some
81 the necessary safeguarding things
must be provided for in the plan for
an association OF nations II such an
association Is 70 be formed.