The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-10-01
No Disrespect
To League
American Attitude Toward
League of Nations Not
One of Hostility.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
,CopyrIGht by TIE Inee.l4encer)

vashirgton. Sept. 50. -SpokeSmeD Of
ne government hero explained today
hat ;f officials ot the league Of nations
'hirk the United States has changed Its
attitude toward that body simply be
rause seN eral unanSw cred Communi'a-
lions from the league have suddenly
hcen answered. they arc attaching too
r,uch significance TO an ordinary act o.
rclitsness
Geneva DISPATCHES toll oc the great
ratification Of officials Of IN" league
because Secretary HuShcS has entered
into correspondence al last with their
organization. Tho fact ia the United
states go, ernmcnt learned f"w weeks
ago through tho press that tho league
- nations Secretariat was criticiHipz
he United States for failing to answer
letters. Secretary Hughes promptly had
p search made OF state department fileS
and discovered that since many OF the
Communications were In the form OF
'rr!rted circulars they had been pigeon
holed without reply. He ordered tina;
all the letters and circulars and notes
re rounded up and promptly acknow-
ledged.
No Dizrsspset.
The terms Of tie replies are idcn;l,
cal and set forth the American goternl
mcnt's attitude in single sentence
which says Note Is taken OF this in
formation for any purpose OF relevancy
70 the United States which Is not a
member Of the League OF Nations
In other words the American gov
.rnmert does not wish 10 he disre-
srectful TO tho league But II has e~-
planned that so Tar as tho United States
Is concerned. II must be regarded as
har tll 70 % n -
on. government has anything n take
10 with the league Il viii do 50 ~
.~rdIng notes 10 tho Individual powers
which make up tina, body. Under no
circumstances will the league Of ma
tons be recognized as having Jurisdic-
ton over purely American rights or
questions.
The o. 8. Position
incidentally, this correspondent learns
further that the Harding administra-
son homes It's attitude will not be mis-
"r .,rued as one Of hostility to the
s&gus Of nations in such parts OF the
vnrld and with respect to such nations
-s do accept its Jurisdiction. Amy
though, that tho Harding administra-
ton has set ort as deliberate course
Of killing the League" is absolutely
without foundation. There is the hiEh-
-rt authority Tor that statement. The
nited States government Is composed
Of msnr rersons. some OF whom like
tha league and others OF whom dislike
:t But the traditional policy of tbs
unitad States has been TO encourage all
organizations which have for their OBJ
lect the preservation OF peace. Not Il
rer.cn connected with the admintstra-
ton Is authorized to raise hand
either here Of abroad against n. suc-
c..s Of ,he work undertaken at Geneva.
This declaration cannot be too strongly
wcrded. for Il IS fact.
Stabilized Europe.
Indeed. tho hope here Is that the
league ct nations Will so thoroughly es-
,ahlish i.selt that II may help the
'easus II ,he old world nations solve
problems which are largely their own.
7, is recognized tha, stabilized
Europe means revival OF American
trade aud industrial nrosnerity hero.
But aside from that there IS enough
al,ruism and idealism 20 want TO SEQ
.vsry international organization sue
csed with respect 10 those nations
which belong 70 Il.
As TO- Tho new world the Central and
South .Nmeri, an republics are tied 10
the United States b. bonds Of friend
ship stronger than any formal institu-
tton. Tho United States IS not urging
South American countries TO withdraw
from the league. For old world prob
lens II may be convenient for the ma
tions OF the south OF us TO have n Point
OF contact with the league but most as
suredly the United States will proceed
hereafter on every Central and South
American question affecting the United
States exactly as II would have pro-
ceeded In 1914 when there was no
league OF nations. ENep the covenant
OF tho league as accepted by Woodrow
Wilson contained q phrase 10 tho effect
that nothing in the league should "af-
feet tho validity OF regional under
standing like tho Monroe Doctrine"
Some objected that this was not broad
enough but inaSmuch rs America did
not jot> the league. the Interpretation
ct that clause is supernuous. SO IA as
'his eminent Is concerned, the Mon
roe Doctrine remains end the league OF
rations is a regional understanding it.
self in which tho United States will not
interfere Purely European questions
can be settled by the league OF nations.
american questions will be settled by
Tho United states In consultation with
hAr neareS, ne!shbors.