Evening star., 1921-03-21
COOLIDGE MESSAGE
NEW LEAGUE HOPE
Statement Accepted as Ad-
miniStrati0n View on
Foreign Affairs.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

If Calvin Coolidge were just an or
dinary Vice President. his message to
the Boston Chamber of Commerce would
expression Of an individual opinion. But
since he sits at the cabinet table and
listens to the discussions by President
Harding and Secretary Of State Hughes
on matters Of foreign policy, the opinions
Of a Vice President become as i'm
portant as those of any member of
the cabinet.
Mr.. Coolidge attracted attention with
his message to the Boston Chamber of
Commerce because he is the first men,
Der of the Harding administration to
say publicly that the future Of Ameri-
can business is interviewer with a set
tlement of international questions.
Members of the cabinet have said more
than that privately. but Mr.. Coolidge
says publicly: with the settlement
Of international relations and the de-
fining of the German indemnity. we
ought to reach stabilized condition
which should result in a large busi
ness expansion"
Many Still Want League.
The foregoing sentiment is hardly
in line with the viewpoint expressed
by ''irreconcilables' in Congress who
have insisted that America could get
along without Europe. and that the
United States had no relationship to
the indemnity question. Indeed, a
canvass of the cabinet members Of
the Harding administration discloses
the fact that more of them lean to-
ward the idea of reaching a prompt
agreement with Europe with the
present league Of nations and treaty
as basis than toward the SCRAP
ping" of the whole league and treaty.
r. During the campaign Mr.. Coolidge
could be construed as an absolute
reputation Of the present league of
nations. though, like the others. he
had much to say against foreign and
unnecessary obligations. Generally
speaking, he is regarded as one Of the
friends of the treaty and league more
favorable to the Elihu Root wing of
the republican party than the Borah-
Johnson faction. There are those
who say that when the treaty was
before the Senate Mr.. Coolidge IA
vored it's adoption with the Lodge
reservations.
Cooperation Declared Need.
The other friends of the treaty and
league in the cabinet include. of
course Messrs. Hughes and Hoover.
but there are others. 1t is not ex-
pected that members of the cabinet
will express opinions publicly on mat
ters outside of their departments. but
Secretary DENLY of the Navy Depart
ment. went SO far recently as to de-
clare that American cooperation
with Europe was necessary even to
the cancellation of war Indebtedness.
Talks which the writer has had
with several members of the cabinet
1ao TO
ment for a definite settlement of the
exact amount which America will
oblige the allies to pay to her is loom
ing up as of much Importance almost
should pay the allies. Some cabinet
members say frankly, though. of
course. they cannot be quoted pub
licly. that as "cold-blooded business
proposition it would be better for
America to forgive the entire debt.
while others insist that the United
States must inevitably consent to a
refunding of the debt in some way
that will enable the allied countries to
get credit abroad and thus stabilize
international exchange.
Burdens May Stop Buying.
Some cabinet members declare that
II America does not settle the debt
question. the financial burdens will
continue to weigh SO heavily upon the
European peoples as to diminish their
purchasing power. Even western
senators are beginning to realize that
after all is said and done and the
emergency tariff laws have been en-
acted to prevent the importation of
European products that compete with
American goods it will become neces-
sary TO do something to get foreign
markets for the American producer
and that this can come only through
the equalization of international ex-
n hot
public opinion in America is not ready
for a cancellation of the allied debt
and that it will be very difficult to
get action in Congress on any pro-
posal to discount the debt. The latest
proposal, however. that the United
States cancel the debts of every allied
country except England, while Great
Britain cancels the debts which are
owed to her by the allied countries, is
being given consideration informally.
By that scheme. England would
cancel about nine billions Of dollars
which is owed her. while the United
States would cancel about five billions
of dollars owed by France. Belgium
Italy and other countries. England /
alone would pay her debt of about !
five billions to the United States
Such suggestions. however. cannot |
be said to have reached the point I,
where the governments policy can be |
stated. The important fact is that
Wherever the IeIHDeTS OIL the HARD /
ing administration turn in their daily !
work and effort to bring back nor !
NAL conditions in American industry |
and agriculture. the league of nations i
or the German indemnity or other Eu- j
ropean questions stare them in the |
face as inescapable and unavoidable |
Vice President Coolidge's speech is |
significant of what is going on al the
Harding ca binet table.
Copyright. 1871
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