The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1921-05-25
HARVEY SAYS AMERICA
FOUGHT THROUGH FEAR
Tells England We Did Not Enter
War To Preserve
Civilization

London, May 20.-George Har-
vey, American Ambassador to Eng
land, in his first speech since he
presented his credentials. delivered
at dinner last night given in his
honor by the Pilgrims Society, Of
London, said Nothing could be
more futile, more delusive and more
mischevious than to pretend that
the Americans proffer of a helping
hand was attributable primarily to
a tender susceptibility"
"It is not" Mr.. Harvey de-
clared. "My country stands ready
to work with yours, because, first,
it is to our own interest to do so;
and, secondly, because it is to the
advantage of both. We do not re-
sent being called idealists, even, as
sometimes happens, by those whose
anticipated reward for extolling our
altuism is transparently material.
But we have come to realize in the
past few years that ideals too often
resolve into illusions, and illusions
we have found to be both danger
Gus and profitless.
"We deceive ourselves occasional
ly. Even to this day at rare inter-
walls an ebullient sophomore seeks
applause by shouting that we won
the war; Far more prevalent un-
til recently was the impression that
we went to war to rescue humanity
from all kinds of menacing perils.
''Not few remain convinced that
we sent our young soldiers across
to. save this Kingdom, France and
Italy. That is not the fact. We
sent them solely to save the United
States of America. and most reluct-
antly and laggardly at that.
1--WE were not too proud to fight,
whatever that may mean. We were
afraid not to fight. That is the real
truth of the matter. So we came
along toward the end and helped
you and your Allies shorten the
war. That is all we did and that is
all we claim to have DONE"
Will Not Enter League
There still seems to linger in the
minds of many here the impress
sion that in some way or other, by
hook or by crook, unwittingly, sure
ly unwillingly, America may yet
be beguiled into the League of Ma
tions. Let me show you how ut
terly absurd such notion is.
'I need not recall the long contest
waged between the two branches of
our government over this proposal.
I need hardly mention that the con-
flict became so sharp that even the
treaty went by the board to the end
that to-day. paradoxically enough.
America continues to be technically
at war but actually at peace; while
Europe is nominally at peace but ac-
.cording to all reports, Is not wholly
free from the clash of arms.
Finally, the question of Americas
participation in the League came be-
fore the people. who decided by a
majority of seven millions. Prior to
that election there had been much |
discussion of the real meaning Of
the word mandate. There has been
little since. A single example prov
ided definition. A majority OF Sc
ven millions clearley conveyed a |
mandate that could neither be mis-
understood nor disregarded.
1T follows then. that the present
Government could not, without be-
trayal Of its creators and masters.
and will not. I can assure you. have
anything whatsoever to do with the
League or any commission or COM
mittee appointed by IL or respon-
sible to it. directly or indirectly.
openly or frutively."