The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-10


Hitherto. my observations have cen.
tered upon the Continental building
and the Pan-American building, up
by the White House. and they have
concerned the good intentions and
great projects that glow and expand
like great iridescent bubbles about
the conference that is going on In
this region. But the conference,
whatever freedom 1t has to think and
discuss, has no power to act. Until
the Senate, by two-thirds majority,
has Endorsed the recommendations OF
the President, the United States can.
not be committed to any engagement
with the outside world.
Misconception In Europe.
This is a fact that needs to be writ.
ten in large letters as a perpetual re-
minder I'm the editorial rooms and
diplomatic offices Of all those
Europeans who write about or deal
with the foreign relations of the
United States. For the Constitution
cad over there as the Anglo-Japanese
alliance has been read here, and II
10 as dangerously misconceived.
Through that first disastrous year of
the peace Europe imagined that the
President was the owner, rather than
he leader, of the United States.
1t was with great interest and curl
sity, therefore, that I went down to
this assembly at the Capitol TO see
the President dealing with his legisla.
ture. Here was the place not OF sug.
gestions but of decisions. What goes
through here IL accomplished and
done-subject only to one thing. the
recognition by the Supreme Court, IL
a. II llAnVx2A that hn thtn0 n n
stitutional.
Both Abuse Their Own.
went down with-what shall I
say-some prejudiced expectations.
The Americans resemble the English
very closely in one particular; they
abuse their own institutions con-
tinually. Prohibition and the police
but these are outside my scope! ]
have heard scarcely good word for
Congress since landed here, and the
Senate, by the unanimous testimony
OF the converse tionalists OF the United
States, combines the ignoble with the
diabolical In a peculiarly revolving
mixture. Even individual Senators
have admitted AZ much, with sinister
pride.
II IL exactly how we talk about Par.
lament in London-though with more
justice. But this sort of talk soaks
into the innocent from abroad and,
though one takes none OF II seriously,
the whole of 1t produces an effect.
had the feeling that was going to see
gathering of wreckers. a barrier,
perhaps an insurmountable barrier, In
the way TO the realisation OF any
dream Of America taking her place as
the leading power I'm the world, as the
first embodiment OF the new thing In
international affairs.
Congress . Necessary Sieve.
1t puts all this sort of feeling right
to see these two bodies in their proper
home and to talk to these creatures of
legend, the Congressman and the SEN
ators One perceives they are not a
malignant sub-species OF mankind;
one discovers a concourse of men very
interested about and unexpectedly
open.minded upon foreign policy. They
are critical but not hostile to the new
projects and ideas. One realizes that
Congress In not q blank barrier, but a
sieve. and probably a very necessary
sieve for the new international i'm
pulse in Arierica.
The ceremcnials Of the gathering
was simple and with the dignity Of
simplicity. The big galleries for visit
tors. which always impress the British
observer by their size. were full Of
visitors after their kind, ladies pre-
dominating. and particularly full was
the press gallery, which overhangs
the Speaker and Presidential chair.
Some faint vestiee of q sound reli.