Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-26
Mr.. HUGHES GOES CAREFULLY
ON VERY TREACHERoUS PATHS
There Are War Makers In Europe Eager
to Shift Their Responsibility TO
the Makers Of Peace

Mo SERIES of diplomatic negotiations
ever before attempted and. indeed. no
other result of organized thought and effort
ever had moral and practical reactions so
profound and SO far reaching ns those that
must follow almost instantly upon the set.
Element Of the question Of German rcpara.
tiOns to the Allies
No decision will be wholly satisfactory TO
everybody concerned. There will be discon
tent in Germany or in the allied countries.
When the final terms are made there may
be even sense Of new defeat
Europe has been promised relief Its
statesmen have been promising it drlveranCc
from its matchlesS troubles They have
promised something like atoncment through
r"parati0nS wrung from the vanqushed de
stroyer But the simple fact is obvious that
no terms of settlement alone can atone 70
tho European masses for what they have
endured and lost
Nothing dcrrced by a diplomatic council
can wholly deliver or relieve them now.
They are coming finally TO reckon not
with thc consequences Of the peace or the
settlement They are being permitted at
last 10 come face 10 face with the cOnsr-
Quencos Of thp war itself--con sequences that
wor" inevitable after the first guns
II will be difficult for the people to realize
this
Many Of their political leaders do not
want Them to realize it.
The statesmen Of Europe have been in no
hurry and they are in no hurry now to
approach the day of reckoning. The pros
poct is charged with suggestions of danger
to men now at the height of their political
careers
II it can ever be made to appear that the
misercS and poverty Of Europe are due to
the terms of peace rather than TO the
triumphant insanities OF the war problem
that now harnesses some Of the leading states
men Of Europe will bp beautifully solved.
President Harding and Secretary Hughes
nr" clearly aware OF all this. That is why
they cannot undertake to be mediators or
~ relieve the political leaders of France.
Great Britain and Germany from the re-
SponsbIity for all final decisions.
They can be- interpreters They can act
with extreme care and Caution-to transmit
appeals aud suggestions between two groups
Of principals who have exhausted their own
capacity 20 negotiate. But that is all. and
perhaps little more, than the United States
may do with complete safety and without
risking an almost endless series of disagree
able complications
Reasoning that iS possible in Washing
ton is possible in London, Paris and Berlin.
And the European diplomntists reason
clearly enough.
What some of them dread is to publish
the conclusions 70 which their reasoning
leads them. From that awful duty they
would gladly be freed. They have shirked
it and shrunk from it for two years
This does not mean thar the appeals for
American mediation in the final deadlock
represented a deliberate attempt TO shift all
responsibility ~ American shoulders. What
rhc political leaders in Europe appear to
desire j moral Justification attainable
through the cooperation Of a government
known to b" without selfish interest in the
immediate controversy
The extent 10 which tho American Govern
mont properly may 90 in that direction is
we'll understood in Washington. and II is Of
n" utmost importance thai tne President
and the secretary Of state sanction no
formula of terms that has not first been pub
Nrly revealed aS tn" work Of leaders OF thp
nations directly concerned
C'ur own iurorpS, i very great but it -
ndr"r, I'nri, Europ" settles down there
can be no economic revival no general re
newal of normal life and effort anywhere in
the World
Bl' even a full economic revival would
cost TO" heavily IT, IN III" effort 10 bring It
about. 'hc United States were mad" 10
appear responsible" for tn" hardshipS under
NhlrH all the European nations will groau
for many Years to- come.
Always before the President and Mr.
Hughes must ho the example Of President
Roosevelt. who experienced to the tull tn"
lugrarrId" ordained for all p"Aremakers
Nr Roosevelt iutorveued in the Russo
.In}aurS" War a. N" earnest solicitation Of
me Emperor Of Japan. The japanese were