The New York herald., 1921-12-13
Resents Theory Of British
Triumph, Giving Credit
All to America.
IRISH AGITATORS SCORED
Opinion in United States Is
Important Factor in
Cementing Peace.
by wICKHAM sTEED,
Editor of London Times.
1Q1f hsf Trpsf1d Nea

Copyright 1921 by United NeaCS.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 1.-THE Ameri-
can public has now had forty eight
hours in which to review Saturdays
proceedings and to reflect upon their
meaning. In no quarter Is serious op-
position offered or effective criticism
advanced. Yet it Is obvious tha.
American opinion as a whole will
scarcely accept the grandeur Of Satur-
days achievement as a lasting pledge
OF the beginning Of new era in inter-
national relations. until the coordina-
ton Of the quadruple treaty with the
other achievements Of the conference
that are still outstanding has been
made plain even to the simplest minds.
In a country so vast as the United
States, with strongly accentuated CEN
tres of population separated from one
another by broad intervals barely peo-
pied. any idea that is to command the
adhesion Of the whole nation must be
susceptible of expression in terms so
clear and so lofty as to preclude misin-
depreciation and to be visible every
where.
The American people have a deep
dislike Of entangling International
alliances. For some years an intense
campaign against the hypothetical inn
plications of the covenant Of the League
of Nations has increased their reluc-
tance to join In agreeing to uphold any
thing outside the United States and its
possessions or not demonstrably lying
within the scope of the Monroe Doc
trine.
Americans have, moreover felt sus-
picious about the Anglo-Japanese al
lance. besides viewing with troubled
disapproval the course of events In Ire
land and the frequent ebullitions OF i'll
temper between England and France.
They hoped. indeed, that the Washing
ton conference would satisfy their
dealisrn. and incidentally relieve the
strain on their pockets, by bringing
about a real limitation Of armaments.
but they had little knowledge Of the
matters contingent upon such limitation,
save in so far as they had been taught
to believe that the restitution of Shan
tung to China would be the test of the
success or failure of American efforts
to improve the position I'm the Far East
Therefore II is natural that the first
rejoicings over Saturdays achievement
should give place to a mood, not exactly
critical, but compounded of wonder and
expectancy. 1t is important that this ex-
pectancy should not long endure, and
that settlement Of the naval ratio and
the formulation of a general agreement
on China should swiftly complete the
tale of the doings at Washington, and
thus convey TO the nation an integral i'm
preston of harmonious and coordinated
achievement under sagacious American
leadership.
1t is important, too, that European
Governments should understand the i'm
mediate repercussion OF their deeds and
omissions upon sensitive American
minds. The announcement OF the Irish
settlement last week completely over
shadowed for a moment the proceedings
OF the conference. which II undoubtedly
influenced. and influenced for good. De-
spite familiarity with Irish and pro-
Irish agitation, the American people are
III acquainted with the real data OF the
Irish problem. Hence the growth Of
acute apprehension lest oppo stion in the
Dublin Parliament should upset the set
tlemcnt-an apprehension fostered by
the well known professional Irish irrec-
oncilables of this country, who do not
relish the prospect of impending uncm-
ployment. Efforts to travesty the work
OF the Washington conference and TO
umph for cunning British statesmanship
over the guileless idealism OF the An,er-
lean people will undoubtedly be made.
just as any evidence of friction between
England and France will be used as
proof that selfish jealousy Is now, as
ever. the handspring of British policy.
No faithful picture of the situation
can leave these features unportraycd ;
but a truth. which delegates TO the con-
ference and their Governments should
remember, is that the situation here re-
mains dynamic. and can only be brought
to permanent stability by a continuation
OF the process OF rapid accomplishment
that has hitherto enabled the conference
to outdlstance the malevolent.
Fortunately there is no likelihood OF
any tagging. A rumor that should be
well founded presages satisfactory
Japanese attitude in regard TO the shan
tung railway, while the quadruple treaty
deprives Of their thorny quality several
isetlee upon which the naval ratio and