The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-05-20
WILLING AND READY

WILLING AND READY
THAT is the business primarily of
governm ents and officials charged
with public responsibilities. Very
good. Our new government, solid in
all of Its branches in support of it's
leader. is both willing and ready"
Mr.. Harvey cited the Washington
administrations proposal for a solu-
ton of the Pacific communications
problem, the American stand on repa-
rations and the designation of Ameri-
can members for the allied councils as
indications of this willingness and
readiness.
Because the President has exempli-
fled his avowal of obligation, it must
not be inferred that he proposes to be-
come an international meddler. con-
tinued the ambassador. HE would be
the last to intervene or be drawn into
any matter of no concern to his own
country, but also no one realizes more
clearly than he that the United States
is of necessity deeply Interested in
proper economic adjustments and the
settlement of matters of world wide
Importance under discussion. and de-
sires helpfully to cooperate.
There still seems to linger in the
minds of many here the impression
that in some way or other, by hook or by
crook, unwittingly, surely unwittingly
America may yet be beguiled into the
League of Nations. Let me show you
how utterly absurd such notion is.
II need not recall the long contest
waged between the two branches of
our government over this proposal.
need hardly mention that the conflict
became so sharp that even the treaty
went by the board, to the end that
today, paradoxically enough, America
continues to be technically at war, but
actually at peace, while Europe is
nominally al peace, but according to
all reports, is not wholly free from
the clash of arms,
PEOPLE MADE DECISION
FINALLY, the question of Americas
participation in the league came be-
fore the people who decided by a ma
jority of 1000, 900. Prior to that cleo
ton there had been much discussion
of the real meaning of the word
mandate. There has been little since.
single example provided definition.
majority of 100000 clearly conveyed
mandate that could neither be mis-
understood nor disregarded.
1T follows then that the present
government could not, without betrayal
of it's creators and masters, and will
not, / can assure you, have anything
whatsoever to do with the league or
any commission or committee ap-
pointed by it or responsible to it di-
rectly or indirectly, openly or fur
lively"
Mr.. Harvey declared that the gov
eminent would not dream of criticising
or Directing to the league, and ex-
claimed: But enough of public af-
fairs! Perhaps / have gone too far
along that line already, but if SO, I
must ask you to attribute the over
stepping to the self-bestowed prerog-
atives of novice. You see l have
never been an ambassador before. Yet
quite proudly deny any suspicion
OF unawareness that suitable acknowl-
edgement of this most cordial greets
ing is all that is expected, or probably
desired of me. upon this occasion"
The time was, said the ambassador,
when John Bull appeared to Americans
as a trifIe arrogant simultaneously
Uncle Sam was regarded by Britons as
"a whiting vulgarian," but, he con-
Guided I'm their places now CLEAN
in personification of our splendid ma
tions the beautiful figures of Britannia
and Columbia. hand in hand, side by
side. erect and glorious upon a plane