Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-05-24
HARprNo,s PREDIcAMENT.

bogus colonel. George Harvey, has
placed President Harding In an embar-
rassing predicament. Harvey Is said
a have gone further than the Presi-
dent would ever have authorized him,
when he made his assault upon Wood
row Wilson. and then gleefully scrap
ped the League OF Nations and all
bodies which arose from 1t.
Although the brave Colonel" twho
never wore a uniform) stated that the
United States would have nothing what
soever to do with the League, yet he
has been directed by President Harding
to sit in the Supreme Council as an
observer representing the United States.
How the colonel" can Join that Council,
after he so thoroughly placed the
United States on record as being against
the League in any form. is more than
unprejudced observers can figure out.
The truth of the entire matter seems
to be that Harvey ran away with hir1-
self in that speech, and said far more
than was desired. But having said II.
the President can i'll afford TO recall the
self-styled colonel so early in the
game. 1t was freely said in Washing
ton. at the time that the valorous
colonel" was appointed to Great Brit
ain, that President Harding had to give
him some kind of recognition. but
feared to put him in once in America,
where his tongue might get him into
trouble. II wa< decided that the Am
bassadorship TO the Court of St James's
would have to keep the peace, and
would have little opportunity to do
harm.
But the first thing that the colonel"
did was to break the rule which says
that an Ambassador must be discreet.
He threw discretion ITO me seven seas,
and GOT the bile out Of his system--not
missing the opportunity to sideswipe
Woodrow Wilson, and to belittle the
accomplishments of the American Army
and Navy. Considering that George
Harvey always appeared to enjoy be-
ing called colonel while In this eoun-
try. 1t seems that he might have had
a little more respect for the r,en who
were not afraid to wear the uniform.
But then, Harvey was never noted for
a sense OF the eternal ntness Of things.
Now that he has caused much dis
turbance, Mr. Harding either has TO
recall him, or else admit that Colonel
Harvey spoke with the fun authority
of the Administration. II he does the
/ former. the Colonel might Immediately
revive Harvey's Weekly, and for the
next four years pay the same attention
TO the Presidents private and public
/ affairs that he did to Wilson'S That
| would never do II M.. Harding admits
Shat his Colonel did speak with
full authorithy. then he win have
| difficulty in squaring that fact
with certain other facts-especially
his Endorsement Of Elihu Roots
| plan for a world court, which calls for
the appointment of judges through the
League of Nations. Mr.. Harding can
not approve of Roots plan and the
"colonel,s'' at the same time
It will be merely matter Of time
before Harvey makes another break
| possibly he win continue TO beIittle the
| work Of the army and navy in war
time. The English have disparaged the
part which this country Played in the
war, and any slap at our armed forces
will be appreciated by them. However,
since Harvey never won hts title of
Colonel on the battlefield, but merely
annexed it because it evidently gave
him added dignity. it seems that he
would keep his mouth shut. Better
men than he gave their lives for their
country--and they were not bogus
coloneIs either.
- If Harvey continues his course he
viii have to be recalled. The mass oi
Americans do not like 10 have an am.
bassador cheaper their country. Why
not recall him now2 It would be tbs
brave thing TO do.