The Owosso times., 1921-05-20
WASHINGTON LETTER
AN ORDERLY PROGRAM

Washington, May 18.-'It was to
be expected that President Harding's
decision to have this country take an
official part in the deliberations of
the Supreme Council would be fol-
lowed by statements of the partisan
Democratic press that another Wilson
policy has been adopted by the Re-
publican administration" says the
Republican Publicity Association
"But this is by no means the case.
1t will be recalled that Mr.. Wilson,
when he was at length convinced
that the United States would not ac-
cept the league of nations and his
program of internationalism with
drew the unofficial Representatives of
this government from the council and
, severed all connections with it. This
was done in a spirit of peevishness
and in the belief that the interests
of this country might be, so leopard
lied as to bring pressure to bear on
the Senate to swallow the Wilson
program whole. The pressure fol-
lowed, but the Senate wisely with
stood it.
"The resumption of unofficial rela-
tions with the council imports no obli-
cations other than an earnest desire
to be helpful in solving the vast prob
lens with which the allies are con-
fronted. Mr.. Harding could have
given no better assurance of his un-
yielding determination to preserve
the free action of the United States
than by his selection of the man who
will take part as the representative
of the President of the United States
in the deliberations of the supreme
council, namely, George Harvey, one
of the most redoubtable irreconcil-
tables in opposition to the league of
nations. Nor does the selection of
Colonel Harvey as the representative
of the President bear any analogy to
the naming Of Colonel House as per-
sonal representative Of Mr.. Wilson
during the greater portion of the lat
ter's incumbency, for Harvey's status
as ambassador to Great Britain bears
the confirmation of the United States
Senate, while House had no authority
whatever to speak for the United
States.
"The partisan press of the opposi-
tion will seek in vain for some incon-
sistency of attitude on the part Of
the administration which it can play
up to the glorification of its deposed
dictator, and having failed i'm, it's
quest it will resort to invention. But
Harding's words to the Congress in
his first address display the program
to which he is rigidly adhering and
which may we'll be reiterated:
The situation is so involved that
our peace engagements can not ig-
more the Old World relationship and
the settlements already effected, nor
is it desirable to do so in preserving
our own rights and contracting our
future relationships. The
WEAKNESS at home and the disappoint-
ment of the world have been COM
pensated in the proof that this repub-
lie will surrender none of its heritage
Of nationality, but our rights in in
ternational relationships have to be
asserted; they require establishment
in compacts Of amity; our part in re-
adjustment and restoration can not
be ignored, and must be defined.
With the super-governing
league definitely rejected and with
the world so informed, and with the
status of peace proclaimed at home,
we may proceed to negotiate the COW
enanted relationships so essential to
the recognition Of all the rights
everywhere of our own nation and
play our full part in joining the peo-
Piles Of the world in the pursuits of
peace once more. We can
be helpful because we are moved by
no hatreds and harbor no fears.
Helpfulness does not mean entangle-
ment, and participation in economic
adjustments does not mean sponsor
ship for treaty commitments which
do not concern US, and in which we
will have no part
"The administration program is
proceeding in orderly fashion and in
accordance with American and Re-
publican principles.