The New York herald., 1921-08-28

ment or force as an argument in So
cial and industrial disputes. Labor
extremists who are in favor of reyou-
tionary action have been thrown down
heavily, and the most significant thing
that has happened in Great Britain's
industrial life since the coal strike was
Aehe decision by the Welsh and the
Yorkshire miners to abandon the idea
of general strike and TO expel all
violent agitators from their ranks.
Herbert Smith, their strongest
leader. has publicly stated his con-
viction that labor must win its battles
not by fighting public opinion, but
by gaining it's allegiance--that Is. not
by force, but by moral suasion. The
Communists have lest all but their
last foothold in France. Germany and
England, and Communism has been
killed, not by reactionary violence, but
- t.. E,-sral eommoE5eIise of the
laboring classes, who see better way
to advance than by civil warfare and
destruction.
National EgOism Dominates.
In international affairs clear vision
OF that kind is not so apparent, be-
cause national egoism is still intense
and national interests passionately at
variance, but the recent action of the
allied Supreme Council over Upper
Silesia Is one Acknowledgement that
the jury of public opinion is likely to
give just verdict on the problem of
national rights, and that violence on
the part of minorities or majorities
Is no proof of right. 1t was, l fancy.
not love of justice which made the
Supreme Council refer the problem of
Upper Silesia to the League of Ma
| tions. 1t was an open confession to
the world that France and Great
Britain We're hopelessly divided on the
fundamental principles of European
policy, and, therefore, the Supreme
Council itself had come to the end of
its power. In future it will no longer
be able to impose it's decisions on
Europe, because house divided
againt itself cannot stand.
This step was made enormously i'm
portant. however, by the pledge by
France and by Great Britain to abide
by the decision of the League OF Ma
| tons. 1t is the biggest step forward yet
made toward a new world system, for
this is not a trivial question but one
that is most passionately regarded in
France. Germany, Poland and Eng
land. 1t has in it's settlement all the
! possibilities of future war or peace not
| only on the frontiers Of Silesia but
! throughout Europe in another Arma-
geddGn from which America would
not be isolated. Ambassador Harvey
says it is purely European problem
in which the United States is not in
terested, but so was Germany's attack
on France and Belgium, in which
| America became very much inter-
ested. Upper Siiesia seems remote,
even from England, but IL the old
system of thought prevails France and
Poland may be ranged against Ger
many and RUSSIA, while England and
| America might have to intervene to
save Europe and themselves.
Now IL the League Of Nations arrives
at a decision recognized as just and
accepted Loyalty by all parties 1t will
be clear proof that mankind is NOV
ing on to wider acknowledgements of
moral laws. If not, then it is not
Might Hark Back to Anarchy.
1t is doubtful whether the German
or the Polish communities In Upper
Silesia. or the greater Governments
behind them, would resist a verdict
! inapartially given by the league, but
If they fell back on armed force as an
1 argument which is possible later on,
it would be to bark back to world
Of anarchy from which we are trying
to escape.
I think that the same argument
might be applied 10 Ireland now The
Irish people are confronted peculiarly
with those problems which I stated at
the beginning Of this message. Their
demand for liberty is unlimited. In
one case they claim to be a minority
oppressed by a majority and a small
people by s. big people. as in relation
to England. In the second case they
claim the right OF the majority to OBJ
tain the allegiance Of the minority as
in relation 10 Ulster. Their leaders
declare themselves ready to take up
arms once more in order to cut them
selves loose from the federation of the
DAlllsl ptOpAC. <ihd ytb llity NOulu
resist by force OF arms the determina-
tion of Ulster to cut herself loose from
the Irish State. For the sake of peace
they are willing to make concessions
TO Ulster which they would never
make to Great Britain.
In spite of the Irish logic. which IS
terrible in it's single idea, this seems
to me illogical; but, worse STILL it
seems to me reactionary. Washing
out all past history and beginning
afresh with an offer of dominion home
rule a fair chance was given Ireland
to abandon force as an argument and
to put forward her moral claims be-
fore an impartial jury of public
opinion. The verdict was given in
favor of dominion home rule first by
the Dominion Premiers at the Impe-
rial Conference and next by the senti-
ment Of the whole world rs expressed
with few exceptions in the worlds
press.
Would violate World Opinion.
If the Irish extremists repudiate that
verdict. declare a state of war and
open new campaign of terror they, I
think. will be violating all those hopes
of liberal thinkers throughout the
world who are striving for arbitration
rather than argument by armed