The New York herald., 1921-07-10
KINGS CHAT WITH HARVEY
OPENS WAY FOR BIG EVENT

received from the United States. Japar
and China
Here was a little rift within the Lutte
that spreading slowly would have ST.
fenced all. The American Government
could not usefully have entered into any
conference as a result of British sugges-
ton. That in the first place would have
been derogatory to Harding's position. II
is true that he is the head American
executive, like a prime minister. though
more authoritatively so than any prime
minister. but also during his term OF
office as President of the Republic he is
a sovereign and among the greatest oi
sovereigns.
Secondly, as we were allied with
Japan under the treaty, newly explained
to run further for twelve months, any
suggestion from our side might easily
seem to a large number of American
people to be manoeuvre in the inter
ests of Japan. Strong elements in Amer
lean public opinion. not merely anti
British but anti-ally. would have beer
up in arms against it. The American
Administration would have been serl-
ously embarrassed.
I'm a word the whole project of &
conference on the treaty, China, dis
armament and all the problems related
to the Pacific would have been ship
wrecked.
Mistake Quickly Corrected.
THAT was the execrable position
Thursday evening. Friday the mistake
in procedure apparently caused by SONS
misunderstanding between the Foreign
Office and Downing Street received
drastic correction. The Prime Minister:
words about replies from the United
wit WI
from official existence. The situation
happily became as though they had never
ben uttered. The way was clear agar
for President Harding. His initiative i
neither anticipated nor prejudiced. Wha
had happened between Thursday evening
and Friday morning to bring about tht
change?
Almost by accident a great state fes-
tival was turned into a memorable po-
litical opportunity. Thursday nights
ball in Buckingham Palace in honor OF
the King and Queen of Belgium was a
pageant of splendor and beauty un-
known since before the war. Against
this magnificent background the King
and the American Ambassador, who as
'every one knows are on very human
terms with each other, had q converse
ton which certainly was earnest, and
could not but have been important. The
relations with America has been sub
ject of intense interest and solicitude tc
his Majesty all his life. Ambassador
Harvey remarked the other day that il
George III. could have spoken to the
Thirteen Colonies as George V. spoke
for Ireland the great separation would
never have happened, The country may
| safely assume that the prompt personal
efforts of the King himself will be
gladly met by his Ministers to remove
the hitch which might so easily have
led to a deadlock"
IF this is the right version. as we
think 1t is, then the service rendered
by his Majesty to good relations be.
tween Great Britain and the United
States is comparable with nothing else
In the intervening sixty years. than tc
Queen Victoria's historic work when she
and the Prince Consort gave a more
tactful and more conciliatory form tc
the critical despatch at the beginning OF
the American civil war.
THE political sequel is too broad in
It's scope for discussion in this article. II
will demand and receive full discussion
when President Harding's expected mes
sage becomes known. Upon that event
the world hangs breathless with interest
Nothing now stands in Americas way
AS we have said the initiative of her
Government is~neither anticipated nor
prejudiced. President Harding and the