The New York herald., 1921-10-15
GEDDES EXPLAINS
DIPLOMACY'S PERIL
Breakdown Of 1914 Due to
Failure of Democracy to
Understand Its Power.
Special Despatch to THE New York HnnaLD

Special Despatch to THE New York HEnALp.
MONTREAL, Que. Oct. 14.--Sir Auck-
land Geddes, British Ambassador In
Washington. and James Rowland Angel.
president of Yale University. were the
principal speakers to-day in connection
with the observance of the. centennial
Of McGill University. Sir Auckland.
after saying that he is optimistic of the
results of the Washington conference
and stating there is nothing on the
horizon to qualify the assertion that
the official relations as well as the per-
sonal relations between the British Em.
pire and the great Republic which lies
to the south of Canada are cordial and
so far as can see will certainly remain
good and cordial right on into the fu-
ture." continued:
The war made people realize that the
control they had of their destinies was
far from complete in democratic coun-
tries. They say their leaders had failed
them, democratic systems had broken
down. 1t was the people themselves
that had failed. They had assumed the
responsibilities Of government. bu. not
realizing what they were doing had let
the government slip out of their hand
and control They had let 1t slip be-
cause they were not competent to form
judgment upon the many matters that
had to be decided The failure of the
old diplomacy that led to the catastro-
phe of 1914 was the failure of the people
to understand the responsibilities they
bore.
They had rightly seized the right Of
self-government and had been slowly
learning by experience how to govern.
1t is painful fact. however. that very
few OF the electors yet understood any
of the great problems before their gov
ernments.
Without knowledge. without under
standing in the minds of great masses
of people, II Is impossible as I see it, for
democracies to get In a peaceful and
stable world. There have to be great
concessions made by nations, or there
has to be the making concessions be-
cause a nation may move In certain
direction, and If il continues to move
in that direction a collision cannot be
avoided. Without understanding. with
out knowledge, without something of
historical perspective widely diffused
among the people who are the gov
ernors of the State, through their power
as voters. without that knowledge you
will get a nation, perhaps national feel
ing charging as a bull eharges--no'
DR.. Angel said he would like to refer
to two things THAT. as an American,
were strongly of this mind. "a.
First, in conducting the great world
Of education we shall not fall to take
advantage of the lesson that Germany
taught us /: we shall distinguish always
end clearly from this time forth between
education which Is merely technical and
professional and that type of education
which represents the fact that the hu-
man spirit as well as the human soul Is
being framed, and that the human spirit
is, after all. the great thing in this
world.
Secondly. may I say that upon you
and upon us all representatives of learn
ing, of thoughtfulness and of judgment.
1t Is peculiarly incumbent at this time.
when sinister forces are at work the
world over. influences which are attempt
ing to rend asunder the great household
of the English speaking peoples. that
we stand as allies against every tendercy
of that kind