The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1921-04-01

4 cOmplisned tacts. When such pack
iges are presented a nation can max,
wry faces and protests, but 1t can dc
nothing unless II wants to go to war
Interference in America.
The chief thing attempted was tC
have the League of Nations Council
in the closing weeks of the Wilson
Administration, sew up tightly the
mandates which would give to Bri-
tain, France, Japan, Italy and Greece
absolute and exclusive title over va
rious portions of the territories con-
quered from our late enemies. This
scheme was stopped only by the Wig
orous note from Mr.. Wilson insist
ing on the rights of America.
The Conferences of Paris and Lon
don undertook to settle the German
and Near Eastern questions before
the new Administration took office;
the British sought to have the ques-
ton of the debt to America similarly
closed. Quiet American opposition
met all these schemes.
But there we're other things nearer
home that closely affected the deepest
policies of the United States.
At the end of the de la Huerta adj
ministration in Mexico, British oil
interests, controlled by the Govern
ment, Ivy some means which may be
easily GUESSED, Obtained vast ccnces-
sions Tor drilling and producing oil
which threaten some of the mos; i'm
portant American properties.
The League of Nations az It's, &C.
neva meeting, with the United States
outside, admitted membership
Costa Rica, which had been barred
heretofore at tue direct instance of
the United States. Great Britain then
;ui ned up with oil concessions to
large areas in that country obtained
from the Tinico Government, which
the United States had refused to re-
cognize.
Japan and Britain obtained further
concessions in Colombia and stirred
up feeling against America because
of the nonratification of the S25,-
100000 treaty.
Then, most peculiarly, at the mo-
ment the Administration changed in
Washington-the moment when some
decision might be xpected-Costa
Rica suddenly made an attack on
Panama. And the British secretary
general of the League of Nations. has
tened to take the trouble in hand
and assert the jurisdiction of the
league over it.
Had these and other schemes sue
ceeded the United States would in
deed have been isolated" and not
by its own preference. All Africa,
all the Near East, the Orient and
Central Europe would have pre-
sented shut doors, and the league
would have been securely ensconsed
in the neighborhood of the Panama
Canal with the groundwork already
laid for stirring up trouble between
Colombia and the United States over
The title to that waterway.
What the eminent league statesmen
evidently did not appreciate is that
he american national game is base
ball; that baseball calls for team
play, and that the assist" is vital
part of the play. What defeated them
was something that might be scored |
hus:
HARDING to LODGE to DAVIS to
Or thus:
WILSON to DAVIS to LODGE toll
IARDING.
In other words they found no in
erregnum, no division between Adj
no moment when they
ould take advantage of the passing
# an i'll President and his aloofness
rom his successor, or his successors
loofness from him.
Mr.. Wilson and Mr.. Harding, al
hough they did not meet found
means to dovetail their policies so
hat at no moment were the vital
interests of the United States left un-
1t was an exhibition of
rising above partisan
olitics which can hearten citizens of
ny loyal party.
"Mr. Wilson accepted the result Of
he solemn referendum" and put the
tate Department practically at the
ervice of Mr.. Harding to carry out
he mandate Of the American peo-
lie. II
Under Secretary of State Norman
|. Davis was the medium Of commu- |
ication on the Wilson side and he
orked In close touch with Senator
odge and the majority Of the Senate (
oreign- Relations Committee, who, l
s,.wx, mana Ia oIooa tauah with Mr. |