Evening star., 1921-12-08
Gentlemen's Agreements.

While the idea of an Association of
nations" is greeted with enthusiasm
by most American papers, one ele-
ment of the plan as projected by
President Harding Is rather freely
criticised. This is the radical de-
parture," to quote the Philadelphia
Public Ledge independently. from
the theory of the diplomacy of the
past that written alliances and trea-
ties were necessary among nations"
Reputation of this theory consti-
tutes, in the opinion of this writer.
zone of the cardinal principles of the
Harding program"
What Mr.. Harding is aiming at,
the Christian Science Monitor (Bos-
ton. independently, says, "is a substi-
tuition of gentlemen's agreement for,
definite treaty" Supplanting for
NAL pacts by Understandings" will
have two advantages, as the Pitts
burgh Dispatch independently views 1t;
it will avoid possible difficulties over
ratification" and 'as for effective
ness. an understanding reached In each ach
agreement and backed by popular
opinion will be infinitely stronger
than any treaty that may at any time
be treated as a scrap of paper II
found disadvantageous.'
Dependence upon the common
sense of most" to keep "fretful realms
in awe" however, will not prove very
practical in operation, in the opinion
of many editors. The Memphis News
Scimitar independently recognizes
that "a round table discussion. such
as the association of nations would
sr n
upon the merits of the questions un-
der consideration, might accomplish
some good" but, as the Pittsburgh
Sun (democratic) says. "it is more
generally understood every day that
a league to which nations do not
authority" Until President Harding
can prove" that 1.-The millennium has
really arrived" the Oklahoma CITY
Oklahoman (democratic) thinks
many Americans will insist that any
agreement in regard to matters vital
to the welfare Of this country must
be drawn up in definite written FORM
properly signed by the representa-
tives Of the participating nations and
ratified as required, by law" for
when that is done there will be back
of the, agreement sufficient moral and
physical force, il necessary, to make
1t mean something" The Indianapolis
News Independently also feels that
treaties would be greatly preferable.
and much more effective-a much
safer reliance" .
But the Chicago News (independ-
that experience has demonstrated
that international agreements actual
1y may amount to less than nothing,
and that even definite treaties are
sometimes quite worthless Ger
tainly this country remembers the
most solemn obligations that the ma
tions of the world had with Germany
and the manner in which she tore
them to bits when she thought 1t to
her interest to. discard them." the
observes. and with the substitution
of "moral obligation" for the old
idea of treaty restraints the Call be-
lieves the United States is ready to
declare that "the word of each mem
Der nation is good enough" and that
upon "the most vital questions it will
not be necessary to nail them down
with treaties" The Charleston CIV.
Val Mail. (republican) sees in the
moral sentiment Of the world"
potent force" which, will hold ma.
the agreements which they reach
voluntarily through the confer
ences of the association of nations"
Certainly nobody fears that any
agreement made at the present con-
ference will not be faithfully OBJ
served" the Indianapolis Star (inde-
pendent republican, declares. and
"the same power Of public opinion
will operate in regard to other pro-
posals that might come up from time
to time.
honor is a fine. ideal," but the Roa-
noke World-News (democratic) finds
that the difficulty lies in the fact that
"the nations Of the world haven't any
such international honor yet" 50 I'VE
can't count too largely upon IT."
Gentlemen's agreements mot only
have no legal FORCE" but, according
to the San Francisco Chronicle Tin
dependent), hardly any actual ef-
feet" especially when neither Of the
gentlemen will let his countrymen
know precisely what agreement has
been made" Then there is the fur
ther difficulty, the Norfolk virginian-
l:Puot independent democratic) suS-
gests, ..of keeping the agreeing ma
tions gentlemanly." Gentlemen's
agreements, with shifting admin
istrations, shifting cabinets and
| shifting popular passions" would. in
| the opinion of the New York World
II fdor,ocraficl hA the most, effective