Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-04-16
LEAGUE LIKELY To
Be BASIS Of NEW
PEACE ASSOCIATION
(Leased Wire Service to TIE Journal.)
Copyright, 1921
Ry DAVID AWRENCE
BY DAVID

Copyright, l92l.)
Bx DAVID LAWRENCE
WASHINGTON. April 14.-The
United States is slowly winning it's
way in negotiations with foreign gov
ernments. France has acceded to the
American viewpoint on the status of
the Island of Yap and there are in
dications that japan, Great Britain
and the other allies will fall into
line and agree to dispose of the con-
troversy by MISUNDERSTANDING the
Island
The significance of what is hap
pening, however, does not lie merely
in the Yap question itself, Some
thing broader is involved, 1t is the
expressed willin gness of France to
be the close friend of America III
shaping new foreign policy. Great
Britain has on more than one occa-
sion since the war manifested de-
sire to work hand in hand with
America on matters of world politics
and the Harding message to congress
is known to have provoked informal
approval among the diplomats gen
orally.
Hughes System
Secretary Hughes is handling the
delicate negotiations with splendid
tact and perseverance. Although he
is not being quoted in the neWspa-
pers every day and is careful about
the comments that are author1zed tor
publication, he is giving the Wash
ington correspondents a rare exam
pie of frankness in dealing with the
press. Mr.. Hughes prefaces his re-
marks usually with the Injunction
that he is not to be quoted. but he
discusses questions with amazing
al
leaves no room for misunderstand-
ing.
Just the other day somebody aske d
him to comment on note that had
been received by the United states
government. The communl c.
government. but Mr.. Hughes pointed
out that he didn't want to start a
precedent of comment. Cases might
arise, he thought, which might not
be so favorable and if he failed to
comment, his silence would be re-
garded as significant and perhaps
meaning given to the incident tHdt
would be unWarranted:
Speaks for Ai1nself
There has been a good deal OF
trouble about press agents anu pup11
lefty and propa ganda. Ihgre VIII
be no such trouble under MI. Hugh IS"
He is his own best spokesman. he
gives the slant to the news OF the
dav that he feels should be given
But his most signal service is IN
foreseeing possible grounds Tor mis-
understanding. He can see IN a cues
ton asked by correspondents furtner
ahead sometimes than the newspaper
men themselves.
A case in point was a rumor that
the entire state department was soon
to be reorganized. Mr.. Hughes ad-
mitted that such plan was IN con,
temptation but the thought flashed
through his mind at once that sQcn
speculation and disturbing stories
about personnel. He quickly eX-
planned that the supervisory person
mel was all that could be desired
that in Under Secretary Fletcher,
Assistant Secretaries Deering, Bliss
and Director Carr, of the consular
service, the department had a splen-
did group of experts but that what
remained to be done was co-ord1nat-
ing the work of the bureaus and
tieing together certain activities
that were related to each other but
were separated at present.
Difficult Job
Mr.. Hughes appears to be Well
satisfied with the progress made IN
the negotiations thus far with for
eign governments. The department
Of state has had a difficult job
taking up the threads of tangled
international situation. But Presi-
dent Harding and Mr.. Hughes have
talked over the whole field of for
eign affairs and Mr.. Hughes knows
the cardinal principles. With the
same zeal and enthusiasm which has
characterized his handling of big ie-
gal problems in the past. Mr.. Hughes
tackles each question in diplomacy
with rapidity and thoroughness
that already have produced favor
able impression throughout the na-
tional capital. 1t is not usual to
find early enthusiasms so quickly
justified.
The note from France is the first
triumph France admits that the
handing out of mandates in the past
was rather haphaZardly done. The
French have gone further in their
informal oral expressions than in
their note. They have said frankly
that they didn't think it was beconl-
ing of the great powers to take adj
vantage of Americas absence from
the conferences by giving away ter
ritorS. without the express consent
of the United States.
League as Basis of Association
There is as yet no acceptance or
rejection of the principle stated in
the American circular note, namely,
that the United States claims a voice
in all matters growing out of the
war whether or not the Versailles
treaty is ratified. It is unlikely that
the allies will meet that question
until they are obliged to do so. They
will confine their replies merely to
the case in hand-the status of zap.
AS for the rights under the treaty,
Mr.. Harding's message has rendered
a controversy on that point for the
moment unnecessary as the new ad-
miniStration now announces that 1t
wishes to sign those portions of the
Versailles treaty which do not entan-
gle America in "inadvisable commit
ments" concerning the future.
In a nutshell things in the depart
ment of state are moving along very
Well-indeed much better than has
been expected. And while the words
League of Nations" are taboo, OBJ
servers are daily finding ground for
the suspicion that just as the Yer,
sailles treaty finally was regarded
after careful examination by the
Harding administration as an ines
capable basis for foreign policy so
will the existing league be found q
basis for the new association OF ma
tons.
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