Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-11-10
PUBLICOPINION
IN i. S. HOSTILE
. TO ALLIANCES
French Editor Finds Ameri-
cans Opposed to Foreign
Responsibility.
ONE FARLEY OBSTACLE
Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
BY PHILIPPE MILLET,
Foreign Editor Petit Parisien

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1O.-(Cablegram
to Petit Parisien. ALREADY l have made
you acquainted with the broad lines of
the policy the American Government
seems to intend to pursue before the con-
ference. However, well-coneeived the
American plan may be, it is indispensi-
BILE to state at once the main circum-
stance which makes its realization diff
fcult
This lies in the fact that the American
public opinion, in its majority, remains
hostile TO the acceptation of any kind of
foreign responsibility.
1t is essential to grasp in this re-
spect all the shades of American
Psychology. There assuredIy exists In
the United States numerous groups OF
men who would Ike either that their
country should enter the League of Ma
tons or at least that the policy Of aD
solute isolation should come to an end.
For instance, it is significant that the
convention of the American Legion
should have voted a unanimous censure
on Ambassador Harvey for his recent
speech on the question OF alliance. Still
Harvey was very likely right in giving
Europe this useful warning for the ma
mtority OF this country, as interpreted by
The United States Senate, would ruth
understanding which would impose on
America the slightest foreign commit
ment.
DISPOSITION DUE
TC TRADITION.
This disposition viii change some
day. However, one has to recall that 1t
does not correspond merely to an ac
cidental state of mind, but on the con-
trary to a deep and permanent tradition
The American people are at bottom
more conservative than the British
people. Their traditional opposition to
the policy OF foreign alliances proceeds
from the same kind of tenacious instinct,
which maintains British opposition to
the channel tunnel.
Under these circumstances the pol
icy recommended ~ the present Amer
lean Administration is in danger Of hit
ting the same snag as that which i'm
peded the progress Of President VIII
sons policies If directly or indirectly
in the shape Of a consortium or in any
other form the Administration appears to
be creating for the country foreign com
mitments, either in Europe or in Asia,
It is to be feared that its policy sooner
or later will be repudiated-
sEEATEs POWER
COULD SET ASIDE.
Already Senator Borah and certain
others are prepared themselves almost
openly IN order to. resume their old
campaign against entansling enga gements
abroad in case g ratihcatory vote Of the
Senate should be required. But the re-
pudiation might also take other forms.
II in order TO avoid the Senate's vote
the Administration should try to avert
q formal treaty, what simply would hap
- 4 -, 81
maertaking should become effective and be
Embodied in certain public acts the Sen
ate would compel the Administration to
alter the Interpretation originally at
tached to the undertakings IN question
Therefore the work which may be ac
complished by the conference with re-
gard to the Far East might very well be
in vain If it tried to be effective.
The same disappointment would be
awaiting US French If as result Of
some generous impulse the American
Government should offer to France
either new treaty OF guarantee or an
equivalent to it. Neither Hughes nor
Harding would be followed in that case.
Even If they should be followed. one
would have to fear some Interior devel-
opment of opinion in favor Of a return
to the traditional policy Of isolation.
far as to say that their country will
never be able to have a foreign policy in
the European sense of the word. Though
their pessimism may be exaggerated, it
IS entirely justified for the present.
REJECTION BETTER
THAN RESERVATIONS.
When one sees close up the real state
OF American opinion one feels that it
was assuredly far better that the Yer
sailles treaty and the covenant of the
league should be purely and simply re-
Tested than TO have a ratification with
reservations which only would have hid
den from the European public the real
will Of the American people.
This perfectly legitimate will consists
Of standing aside from any permanent
grouping, which OF course would not
prevent America from intervening freely
and temporarily when necessary. Amer
lea OF today wants to remain on a polit-
ieal level different from that upon which
Europe stands.
This fact does not in the least dinin-
1Ssh either the importance of American
~1riendship TO France or the usefulness
OF the present conference. As BRAND
expressed II on his arrival in the United
states, the effort made by the American
Government IN favor of Limitation OF
armament deserves Frances unhesitating
and unconditional support. In the mean
time the traditional friendship can but
grow. But in order that IL shall in fu-
ture bear new fruits. it is essential that
France should neither ask from nor offer
to the American people more than the
American people are willing to give her.
Copyright, 1921, by Public Ledger
Company.