The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-04-22
THINK TANCLE
WITH EUROPE
CLEARING UP
Hughes Is Tearing Into Prob
lem of Our Relations with
World - Settlement Will
Better Business.
CONFIDENCE GROWING
BY MARK SULLIVAN

WASHINGTON, D. c., April e.
1t is difficult to know whether the
public generally is interested in our
foreign affairs in proportion to the de-
gree we in Washington talk about
them. If Washington seems to talk
too much about foreign affairs, it is
because Washington is so much
pleased at the way they are going,
after a prolonged period of strain and
difficulty, things are beginning to
look smoother. and it is possible to
see way out.
One of the most cheering facts in
connection with our foreign affairs is
the cooperation between Secretary
Hughes and ex-President Wilson. If
any foreign statesman, with an inter
est adverse to the United States
thought this was going to be case
Of playing off the Harding administra-
tion against the Wilson administra-
ton, he is now undeceived.
No Embarrassment.
II any of them thought they could
use the record of Wilson administra-
tion to embarrass the Harding admin
istration, they are deceived on that
point also.
AS it happens, when Mr.. Hughes
stepped into the state department on
March fourth, he found an admira BILE
record. Secretary Hughes is appre-
ciative of this. and has let Mr.. Wilson
know his appreciation of this as well
as of subsequent cooperation. OF
course, the rejection OF the League of
Nations and the fact that the league
is so entangled with the treaty does
make difficulty. but omittins that
one field of trouble. in all other re-
spects the Wilson administration
handled the foreign tangle in such a
way as to leave an excellent record
for the new administrator to build on.
Rely on Hughes
A good deal of our confidence about
foreign affairs rests on Secretary
Hughes personality. secretary
Hughes has a mind that is like COM
bination of steamshovel and fodder
shredder. his capacity for digging into
complex subject and tearing it to
pieces and bringing order and clear
ness to it is not excelled by any other
lawyer in America.
Good physique has something to do
with this. Anybody who watches the
stream of ambassadors ard other i'm
portant callers whom Secretary
Hughes must see, wonders how he can
find time for the writing Of so may
diplomatic notes of high importance.
Secretary Hughes manages it by doing
part Of his work which calls for re-
Election and careful statement early
in the morning before he comes to
the Office.
Making Progress.
Our foreign program is making
steady progress. 1t is now clear that
We shall take part in the consideration
OF reparations. The broad basis OF
Secretary Hughes contention about
Yap is that our rights go with our
interests we have a right to be con.
suited whero-ever our interests are
concerned. The same theory will call
on US TO have a hand in al that is
done about reparations.
We have a right to be there because
cur interests will be affected by what
j. done. Whatever tariff is put on
Germany will have an economic effect
on every business man in the United
States. Ii we we're not in the repara
ton conferences we should have a
situation in which two parties. namely
the allies and Germany being present
would have every reason to ignore the
interests of the third party. The
United States being absent similarly
we have an interest IT the amount o1
reparations Germany is made to pay
Our first interest is that she shall be
made to pay just AS much as she posi-
bly can to undo the damage for whicl
she is responsible. Our second Interest
Is that there shall he no attempt to
do
thing which would make her economic
ally impotent in the future.
Crisis Not Expected.
"On this point the hest Judgment ir
Washington is that the expected crisis
will not occur Germany will see thai
she must pay and that any tactics o.
opposition will meet with united con
demnation and resistance from both
the Allies and Americans. The bes1
Judgment is that France will not &C
to Berlin"
With this immediate crisis out o.
the way, we should soon see the frs
turn for the better in business. Wheth
er. the wider public realizes 1t or not
Washington knows that the funda
mental cause Of the present depression
IN America Is the paralysis of inter
national relations. Tariffs won't cure
II, changing the taxes will only affec
It slightly. The railroads are only E
part OF It. The real cure IS the
restoration OF stability in internationa
relations. and that is the ultimate tasl
OF the administration.
(Copyrieh 1921 by the New Yorl
Evening Post, Inc)
Panaa ArllFP ARRlnl 1Aln