New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-05-20

with whom have thus far come into
contact
Precisely as your Ambassador went
10 Washington az an unalicyed Briton,
come to London as an unalloyed
American.
Nothing could be more futile, more
deausive and more mischievous, he said,
thsn to pretend that the Americans
protfer of helping hand was attri-
nutable primarily to 50 tender suscep-
tibility"
ut is not,y Mr.. Harvey declared
My country stands ready to work with
yours, because, first, iS is to our own
interest TO do so, and, secondly, be-
cause 1t is to the advantage of both.
We do not resent being called idealists,
even as sometimes happens, by those
whose anticipated reward for cxtoiling
cur altruism is transparently material.
But we have come to realize In the
past few years that ideals too often
resolve into illusions, and illusions We
have found to be both dangerous and
profitless.
Sent Army to Save United States
"We deceive ourselves occasionally.
Even TO this day at rare intervals an
ebu1lient sophomore seeks applause by
shouting that I'VE won the war Far
HuVES pISNAkSnt uHtlA TSCShtAS WAS WV
impression that we went to war to
rescue humanity from all kinds of
menacing perils.
mot few remain convinced that
we sent our young soldiers across to
save this kingdom. France and Italy.
That is not the fact. We sent them
solely to save the United States Of
America, and most reluctantly and
iaggardly at that.
I'VE were not too proud to fight,
whatever that may mean. We were
truth of the matter. So we came along
toward the end and helped you and
your allies shorten the war. That
is ali we did and that is all we claim
TO have DONE"
Discussing what he called the "sen-
tient, perilous present." Ambassador
Harvey said:
"For years I have heard it pro-
claimed that war between Great Brit
ain and America had ceased to be CON
ceiyable. Never have known the
probation, yet 1t is clear that what is
alleged to be q fact Is no more than
an assumption. No resumption of an
armed conflict is unimaginRble. Any
day may Witness renewal OF the Wars
Of the Roses, any day the clash of the
blue and the gray in the swamps of
Virginia.
"But so unlikely are such happen
ings that the suggestion, even though
it incredibly were made, would evoke
no more than derisive smile. But it
ia one thing to stamp constantly upon
an absurd notion and another thing
never to think of it at all.
Can Forget War Possibility
SNOW the question rises, Have not
our countries reached q point witl2
respect to the remotest possibility of
a conflict that iustifes our forgetting
it as completely as the battles of Bos-
worth Field and Appomattox have faded
from our recollection?
Such, | am happy to report faith
fully in the teeth of all the mischief
makers and scandal mongers of both
nations, has become the settled cenvic-
ton of our people and, | hope and
doubt not, of yours.
1--WE will got nowhere until we
abruptly put aside academic discussion
of theoretical proposals and manfuily
face, without mincing or wincing. the
actual realities. We must realize the
time has cesne to practice whaS we have
been preaching and demonstrate our
fidelity by our acts. %
'sThat Is the business primarily Of
governments and officials charged with
public responsibilities. Very good.
Our new government, sound in all it's
branches in support of its leader, Is
both willing and ready"
Mr.. Harvey cited the Washington AID
nlnistratien's proposal for q solution
of the Pacific communications problem,
the American stand on PREPARATIONS and
the designation of American members
for the Allied councils as indications
of Sbts willingness and readiness.
because the President has exem-
plifisd his avowal Of obligation, it
must not be inferred that he proposes
to become an international neddler,"
continued the Ambassador. "He would
be the last to intervene or be drawn
into any matter of no concern to his
OWN country, but also no one realizes
more clearly than he that the United
States is, Of necessity, deeply inter
eated IN proper economic adjustments
and the just settlement of matters Of
Worldwide Importance under discus
sion, and desires helpfully 70 cooperate.
Calls League Entry Absurd
There still seems to linger in the
minds of many here the Impression
that. In some way or other, BY hook
or by crook, unwittingly. surely unwil-
hngiy, America may yet be beguiled
into the League of Nations. Let me
show you how utterly absurd such a
notion is.
need not recall the long contest
waged between the two branches of our
government over this proposal. need
hardly mention that the conflict be
came so sharp that even the treaty
went by the board, to the end that to-
Gay, paradoxieally enough, America
continues to be technically at war. but
actually at peace, while Europe "a
nominally at peace, but, according to
all reports, is not wholly free from the
clash Of arms.
Finally. the question Of Americas
participation IN the league came be.
fore the people, who decided by ma
Jortty OF seven millions. Prior to that
election there had been much discus
sion Of the real meaning of the word
mandate. There has been little since
single example provided definition
majority of seven millions clearly
conveyed mandate that could Meth er
be misunderstood nor disregardea.
sit follows, then, that the present gov.
ernment could not, without BETRAYAL al
It's creators and masters, and will NOT
can assure you, have ANYTHING what
soeyer to do with the league or anv
commission or committee appointed nv
i or responsible to it, directly or in.
directly, openly or furtively."
VIII Not Object to IL
Mr.. Harvey declared that the govern.
nenS would not dream of crificiz;n