Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-04-23
Our Vital Interests IN Lands
Across the Sea

Across the Sea
- HOSE monitory remarks which have
been issuing of late from Mr.. Hughes
commissioner at Washington, for the
benefit of the pugnaciously disposed in Cen
trail America, give point to an observation
by The Journals European correspondent,
Mar. William Ivy, touching the make-beliefs
and realities of foreign policy. Says he, with
keen insight. "Fol the United States to pre-
tend deliberately that it is unconcerned with
the internal politics of other nations is the
same thing as for botan1st to pretend that
he is interested in flowers and not in seeds;
it Is internal politics that determines foreign
policy"
Meddlesome we should never be, but in
terested we must be, not only in our Latin
American neighbors, but in nations the world
around Revolution in Mexico or threatened
war in the legion of the Panama canal OBJ
viously concerns us, and call for the State
Departments mo earnest, as well as most
tactful and friendly, efforts to restore sta
biIity. But what of Russia? What OF Ger
many? What of France? What Of Japan? II
there existe' in Russia today politically
and morally dependable government we
should be trading with ler people to the ex-
tent of millions of dollars month, and
American goods now in need of markets
would find fresh demand. But while that
country remains under the blight of Bolshe-
yism extensive commerce with it Is virtual
" impossible, notwithstanding that The block
ade and other external barriers have Deen
removed. Though there is almost no hmlt'
writes Secretary Hughes, "to the amount
= variety of commodities urgently needed
by Russia. the purchasing power OF that
country is now at minimu and the De-
mand must consequently remain unsatlshed.
The follies and tyrannfes. OF SoVletlsm, ne
goes on to point out, have tended to under-
mine the country's political ana economic
relations with the world, so that the Rus-
sian people cannot obtain the credits which
otherwise could be based on the " st poten-
tial wealth all about them. Lacking creolts,
they cannot procure the materials, macnln-
ery and transport facilities so grleVously
needed for their country's rehabilitation.
Thus they cannc produce and sell what we
and others want to buy. and they cannot buy
what we and others produce and want TO
sell How then. can intelligent Americans pc
unconcerned in Russian politics? How coula
our Government pretend to SIT In superior
isolation from Lurope's troubles When py us
very refusal-and a refusal quite Justified
to recognize Len1ne's regime, II lakes pal1
in Russian affairs?
Whether Germany shall go forward in de-
mocracy or resume the ways or the no
henzollern, whether France shall nave eQul-
table and prospecting taxation or persist IN
a system which saps the vigor OF business
ar japan shall be guided by liberal, peace
loving craftsmanship or by heady jingolsm,
whether China's furnishing millions snail pe
succored or left to perish, all makes ire
mendous Inference to the prosperity anu
. happiness of the American people, lnoeeo'
Developments and conditions in thos" strate-
gic realms of world politics and world trade
are of much greater concern to us than are
little rows and revolutions in Central Amer
lea. The latter fall within our immediate
sphere of fluence and are, for the most
part, only the rash of young republics. But
Europe and Asia, remote though they are in
miles, touch us directly and vitality in the
great problems and purposes and outwork-
ings (which human history Is made. They
are no further than the flight Of an airplan
or the flash of wireless telegraphy, no fur
Their than thought and feeling.
To say that we are concerned with the
fortunes and attitudes of other countries,
arc concern with their internal politics
which is ofttimes the seed of their foreign
policies, is not t. suggest that we should be
in any wise intrusive, but simply that we
should be interested and, when circumstances
so warrant helpful. This is not strange
doctrine, MOI impracticable. It is doctrine
that every producer Of cotton, to take one
example amongst myriads, can appreciate
when he reflects upon how essential it is to
his own prosperity that the war-broken coun-
tries of Central Europe be granted long
term credits In order that they may Duy Tie
raw cotton needful to resume and build UP
their textile industries. Not until such credits
are provided and those markets re-opened
will the problems of the Georgia farmer be-
gin fairly to untangle. His troubles are In
terknit with theirs; they must be worked Out
together. Or consider the matter Of French
taxation, to which we alluded moment ago
Wondrously rich as the country is. the u :
eminent of France is described by a recent
and altogether sympathetic writer as "abys
maIly poor" Why? Business, he answers, has
been taxed until it staCgers under the loac
and can bear no more. "But the real wealth
CT France is agricultural-it is in land rent
a.. values-and this wealth is not taxed a.
all. If it were, it would mean the countryt
economic salvation" And notice how
tbs situation relates itself to America
France wants American capital, but skit
fish American capital wants securitJ The
surest security would be sound French tax
alton policy. If there were any evidence tina
the State Department at Washington knew
this, it could not help having powerful eft
feet the internal affairs. and by SO mucl
on the foreign policy, of France, and a pow