The Bozeman courier., 1921-09-28
u. S. never TO BE
ISOLATED BY ANYONE

In an ill-concealed attempt to mis-
represent the attitude of those citi-
zens Of the United States who oppos-
ed our joining the league of nations,
a prominent newspaper advocate of
the league remarks in a tone of irony,
the United States must not deal
with Europe" Endeavoring to show
an inconsistency in our attitude the
same newspaper remarks, "the Unit
ed States has gotten far enough
away from the strict construction of
Washineton's farewell address and
the advice of Thomas Jefferson that
all its supporters agree that this gov
eminent cannot ignore the far east"
The purpOrt Of the whole editorial is
that the United States has put itself
in a grossly inconsistent position by
.2efusing TO join the league and then
inviting European powers to partici-
pate in a conference in which prob
lens Of the Pacific are to be discuss
ed and, if possible, settled.
Neither Washington nor jefferson,
nor any statesman Of the present day
has ever proposed that "the United
States must not deal with Europe" :"
On the contrary Washington spoke of
our extending our commercial re-
lations." What Washington insisted
upon, and what the best minds of
America insist upon today, is that
America should have with European
nations "as little political connection
as possible"
So far as the treaty of Versailles
undertook to settle any international
relations between Germany and her
opponents in the war, the United
States senate would have voted
promptly and with practically no op-
position for the ratification Of every
feature Of the peace treaty that set
tied differences between Germany on
The one hand and the allied and as
scia.cd nations on the other.
But the league Of nations cOven.
ant was not such a matter. 1t haC
no essential relation to the differ
coccs between Germany and her enc
mics. 1t undertook TO set up a per
warcnt political organization which
If we became a party to it, woulC
--s7ir5 Us to European and Asiatic ma
tions and form what George Wash
inetou called o political connection,
inr.lvi-e u7 in al the jealousies, riv
alr.es intrigues, disputes and war
fare which are CERTAIN to arise from
trme 20 time.
I'm proposing that the United State
and European and Asiatic nation
shall discuss Pacific problems it i
not proposed that there shall be Great
ed q permanent alliance of nations
but rather, that a definite agreemen
shall be reached settling once an
forever certain disputed questions
whereupon these will be closed inci
dents and there will be no politics
connection arising therefrom.
No one will be misled by the al
tempt to picture opponents of tn
league Of nations as insisting tha
"the United States must not des
with Europe" The United States ha
been dealing with Europe from tn
day Of our declaration of indepenC
ence. We have had treaties with ever
European nations. We have enjoye
commercial relations profitable G
both sides, and in the recent war "
showed ourselves willing to go
any extent to protect our right
continue those relations in the futuT
We have also made it clear, hOweve
that weTshall maintain our polite
independence and preserve our rig
to form Our judgments and govel
our actOfs according to the circul
stances Of each side as it may ari
and IN accordance with our own sen
Of Justice.