Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-23
THE DECOY FAILS
"NE ARE throwing ourselves" |
w ono Rprlin upwSponpr tb, nj,

GIVE ARE throwing ourselves" lamCnts
w one Berlin newspaper, the Lokal An
zeigcr, ''hClplcss into the hands of a man
whose message showed how far he was re-
moved from German ideas and sentiments"
How on earth was this conclusion
reached? What, besides facts, remained to
guide ths sensational German editor, who
actually anticipated the tenor of Secretary
Hughes note?
A little more Of this sort Of observation
and Germany will begin to understand that
only few years ago we raised against her
the greatest army in our history that we
fought our way to victory side by side with
several of the nations of western Europc
and that we are not yet in Il state of peace.
Meanwhile. Mr.. Hughes may be counted
upon to be tcrSC, prompt and explicit His
reply to an invitation from a nation with
which we are technically at wsr to mcdiate
between her and gronp OF nations with
which she is technically at peace is one of
the timCicst of state documents Consd-
Grafton is promised for new German rcpara-
tions proposals. and the prOpricty of pass
ing them on 10 the Allies is n subject that
wll receive -irtcntion. Less than this the
United States 4oVprmincr, C0uts scarcely do
in the stuatoa. Anything more at this
time is out of the question. and a definite
"NO' disposeS of the fantastic mediation
offer.
The temptation to denounCe such an idea
as mad is modified by present knowledge
and past acquaintance with German impu-
dcnce and propaganda methods. II was
impudcncc from Berlin which hurled us
suddenly into partnership with the Allies
in the world war. 1t is impudcnt miscon-
ception of our attitude concerning the treaty
of Versailles that is discoverablc in the
clumsy German effort to drive wedge be-
tween her former foes upon the battlefield.
Propagandsts, who have been repeatedly
blundering ever since the challenge was
flung to civilization in 1914, have unQucs-
tionabIy been stirring again. and with the
customary consequences. II is not too much
70 say that never since the pickering over
tho peace treaty began have the sentiments
Of America and the Allies been more closely
in accord than at this moment. II is
case of the German folly of 1917 all over
again.
The mass of American public opinion.
despite abiding criticism of the treaty and
fears of punitive CXccsses. is without doubt
solidly behind Great Britain and France in
III" determination TO prevent Germany from
wrggling out Of her obligations. Tho cx-
pOSure of marplot and Pecksniff is COM
plctc.
Mr.. Hughes as professional statesman,
has succeeded admirably in keeping his tenn
per. Trades against Germany will not
expedite the peace which is world n"ccs-
sty. 1t is possible both TO reject obvious
traps and TO suggest an opening for negotia
tions which sooner or later must be con-
Summated. The compact wording of tho
secretary of states note. dispatched within
three hours of the receipt of n request
stepped in bathos. significantly urges Ger
many to cease sulkng. .
There can be no doubt that If new in
IDENTITIES proposal were sufficiently in ac-
cord with actualtios this government would
forward the program The advance into
Germany. fears of which have induced that
country TO address The United States in
such fawninG terms. might then be avcrtcd
by constructive negotiations.
Their" is sound craftsmanship in this
aspect Of the case as viewed by Mr.. Hughes
just as there IS vigorous common sense in
his fiat reputation of a childish dccoy.