Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-24
TAC|T APPROVAL Of.
HARVEY'S UTTERANCE
GIVEN BY PRESIDENT
BY ROBERT r. SMALL
neased Wire Service to The Journal.)
downright, 1921


WASHINGTON, May %. The
outstanding political event of last
week in Washington unQuestionably
has been the fact that Colonel
George Harvey, ambassador to Great
Britain, has assumed a position of
authority in the foreign relations of
the United States subordinate only
to that. of President Harding and
Secretary of State Hughes. AS a
matter of fact Colonel Harvey has
gone farther than Mr.. Hughes in
outlining the foreign policy OF this
country, and President Harding has
let it be known that he tacitly ap-
proves everything the colonel has
said
1t has been commented in the cap
ital that the American foreign pol
icy was being directed by the three
HIS, meaning Harding, Hughes and
Hoover. Now a fourth H has been
added in the person of Colonel Har-
vey, and he unquestionably rangs
above Mr.. Hoover.
Colonel Harvey occupies a unique
position in American history. He
has more power and authority than
was accord to another member of
the H family in the last administra-
tion-Colonel f. M. House. colonel
Harvey not only is at the head of
the American diplomatic service but
is the personal representative of
President Harding, authorized to
take part" in the deliberations of
the supreme council of the allies,
that governing body of the entire
world. When Colonel Harvey speaks
in Europe, he speaks not for him
self alone, not merely as American
ambassador at the court of st
James, but in the name of the Amer
lean president Colonel House rep
resented President Wilson for a time
in the supreme council, but his au-
thority was limited and he had no
absolute official standing
Few persons who have not paid
the closest possible attention to the
development of affairs in Europe
realize the power of world absolut-
ism assumed by the rene coun-
Gil, of which Colonel Harvey now
has become an integral part
NO Official Standing
Ostensibly the supreme council has
no official standing. 1t is not a
creature of the treaty of Versailles,
nor Of the covenant of the League
of Nations. 1t was for this rea-
son that President Harding said
he had authorized Colonel Harvey
to take part in its deliberations,
whereas he appointed only an of
ficial observer" to the reparations
commission, which was constituted
by the treaty. America is not a
party to the treaty of Versailles,
and if Colonel Harvey speaks by
the card, never will be-
And yet the supreme council of
the allies is proceeding to the settle
ment of world affairs just as if there
were no machinery provided by the
1t is supreme in fact as well as
in name, as supreme in the world
as the supreme court is all powerful
In the United States. Notwithstand-
ing the fact that it has no sanction
by the treaty of Versailles all con-
troversies arising out of that treaty
are taken up and finally settled by
the supreme council.
1t was the supreme council which
decided finally what Germany should
pay in the way of reparations, al
though, of course, the findings Of
the reparations commission formed
the basis for the decision.
1t remains for the supreme coun-
Gil to make a decision as to the
Upper Silesian controversy. despite
the fact that this controversy has
arisen out of provisions in the treaty
of Versailles providing for a plebis-
cite and the readjustment of Polish
boundaries in accordance with that
plebiscite.
Probably of more Importance tC
America directly than either OF
these two cases is the fact that il
| Is up to the supreme council to make
final decision as to the future
status of the Island of zap, concern
| ing which there has been a rather
! United States and Japan, and cor
| respondence between the United
States and France. Great Britain
and Italy.
Councils Authority
1t has been the general impression
in this country that the arrange
ment of all mandates for former
German territory, such as the island
of zap, was in the hands of the
League OF Ndtio1S' pul IL mas ue-
veloped that the actual ALLEGATION
of mandates rests entirely in the
hands of the unofficial supreme
council. While America was absent
from the council the mandate for
zap, the great cable communication
center of the Pacific, was awarded
to Japan. This action was taken on
the initiative of Great Britain and
is generally regarded as the outcome
of an agreement reached between
Great Britain and Japan in 1917
whereby in return for increases
japanese naval activity against Ger
man submarines in the Mediterra-
Japan's future claims to all of Ger
many's Pacific islands north of the
equator.
When the United States protested
against awarding the zap mandate
to Japan and advocated the interna.
it difficult to answer the reply thai
inasmuch is the United States ha6
declined to take part in the pro
ceedings of the supreme council. i
was not seen how she could com
plain of any decision reached by
that body. Whether it was coinci
dence or not. the decision of Presi
dent Harding to designate Colone
Harvey as his representative to take
part in the deliberations of thu
council. quickly followed the receip
of this Japanese reply.
Now the zap situation has taker
on an entirely different aspect, al
aspect which unquestionably is EN-
barrassing to Great Britain. anc
which has caused her to withhold
for the time being a reply to the
American note of protest
The supreme council is composed
of representatives of Great Britain
France, Italy. Japan and the United
States.
It is not generally known as yet
y but italy and France have indicated