Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-26
AN ERA OF GOOD FEELING

A FOREIGN policy conducted without
n domestic friction is the novelty which
President Harding contributes to the early
months Of his Administration. Although
fcw chronic malcontcnts have questioned the
exceedingly quiet methods pursued in franz
ing the new treaty with Germany, and
although not a single senator had anything
to do with the negotiations in Berlin, rep
rcscmtHtivcs of both parties in the Foreign
Relations Committee have expressed general
satisfaction with the result
The tact of the President and the forccful
constructive abilities of Secretary Hughes
appear to be largely responsible for this
happy and welcome turn of events.
Reports that the treaty was to have been
signed before the leaders of the upper house
wcrc permitted acquaintance with its con-
tents were strategicaly bcled by the intl-
mate conferences which Mr.. Harding and
Mr.. Hughes held with the Republican men,
bCrs of the Foreign Relations Committee
and with the whole committee respectively.
These meetings were in strict conformity
with the Presidents power to make treaties
by and with tho advice and consent of the
Senate" The signing Of the treaty. dated
yesterday. came aftcrward, not before, con.
sutatIon at home.
While it is true that Mr. Wilson unon
his first return to this country. in Fcbru.
airy. 1919. did invite members nf the Senate
Foreign Relations and the House Foreign
Affairs Committees to discuss features Of
tho negotiations in Paris. the political at.
moSphcrc at that time was far from pro.
pitiouS. There was resentment over the
failure Of the Democratic President to
rcrogniz" tho SCnat" in his commission 10
tho Peace Conference. and. Of course, the
Icagu" Of Nations was Il mare S-nrSt.
~
merits Of Mr. Harding, performance any
legally possible to withhold from the Scna-
tors all knowledge Of the details of the new
pact until it was signed.
But the President has not presumed upOn
the present marked asccndancy Of his party
nor upon the circumstance that. the Ad-
muiotration being new. the prevailing att.
tudo toward him is sympathetic and
friendly. His grntuitouS consultation with
hs partisans in the Foreign Relations Com
mttcr was as wise aS it was gracious.
On the Democratic side. Mr.. Hitchcock
is reported as pleased with Secretary
IIughcs' confidcnccS II src no reason &"
declares the Senator from Nebraska. who
formerly led Mr. Wilson'S fight for the
Versailles pact in the upper house "why
tho treaty should not he ratified promptly" ."
Doubtless he is awar" that the actual ncgo-
tiations in Berlin werC conducted by an
American envoy appointed someWh hat in
definitely ~ commissioner during the
Wilson Administration.
The retention by President Harding Of
Ellis Lorng Drcsel, diplomatist Of OK e
prricnrc and discretion. in his Berlin post
IS one Of the many ameltoratlng methods
cbarartcrizing the existing regime. There
is every prospect that the present atmos-
phcrc Of harmony will not be rudely dis
pcllcd. Certainly the public dcvoutly hopes
that no marplots will intervene.
Another treaty row would bc agonizing in
the extreme, fact of which both the Prcsi
dent and the energetic chief Of the State
Department appcar kcenly conscious