The Washington times., 1921-03-10
YANKS TOSTAY.
ON RHINE NOW.
Allied Advance Alters Situation.
Recall Would Hearten Ger
mans, Administration Feels.
By GEORGE r. HOLMES,
international News Service.


international News Service.
There were unmistakable signs to-
day that the new administration is
going to proceed slowly and with
extreme caution in Strengthening out
the kinks in our European relations.
U. 8. WATCHING CLOSELY.
The Allied occupation of German
territory AMI the tide of revolution
which, for the first time in three
years. bids fair to engulf Soviet Rus
sia are two situations that are being
closely watched by the Administra-
tion. But they are being scrutinized
more against the time when Ameri-
can policies must be formulated than
with any idea of taking steps i'm
mediately.
In the Ave days that he has been In
the White House, President Harding
has conferred With scores of men high
In public and business life, but the
overwhelming burden Of his talk has
concerned conditions at home, not
abroad. With only two men-Secre-
tary of State Hughes and Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge-has he discussed
international affairs, and even with
these the conversation is described as
general in character.
DOMESTIC ISSUES FIRST.
Those in the confidence of the new
President said today that this was
in keeping with the promise often
made by Senator Harding during the
campaign-that. IL elected. he would
adopt a policy OF putting our own
house in order first" before attempt
ing to cross either the Atlantic or
the Pacific.
The Panama-Costa Rica contro-
versy. so far as is known. is the only
international issue to which the new
administration has given serious at
tention, and this is so close to home
that 1t is considered practically a
domestic issue.
President Harding is more or less
committed to the recall OF American
troops from the Rhine so soon as that
Is found practicable. During the
campaign he frequently asserted that
American troops had no business"
there and they should be home" The
allied advance into German territory,
however. has altered the aspect OF
this problem materially. ard IL there
had been any intention on the part
CT the new Administration of immed-
lately returning these troops. ii is
now considered virtually certain that
such intention will not be carried out.
for the present at least.
MIGHT EMBARRAss ALLIES.
To call for the return Of the troops
now might result in embarrassing
England, France and Belgium and
would certainly be construed in Ger
many as widening the crack which
admittedly exists between the poll
cies of this Government and the al
lies While the new administration
may differ greatly with the allies on
questions OF policy, there is no dispo-
sition to advertise that fact to our
late enemy.
The same situation exists to a
great extent in the proposed passage
of the Knox resolution declaring a
state of peace with Germany. Fol-
lowing the example of their candi-
date, Republican speakers during the
campaign told their audiences that IL
the Republican ticket was elected
there would be peace with Germany
''as seen as Republican Congress
could pass such a measure for Re-
publican Executive to sign"
Whether this resolution will be pre-
sented and urged to immediate pass
age when the new Congress assemblies
early in April appeared problematical
today. A good many Senators and
others feel that II would be unbecon~
ing for the United States to formally
declare peace with Germany while
the allies were engaged in military
maneuvers to compel Germany to full
fiji the terms of their peace. Repub-
iican leaders are hopeful that the
situation will clarity itself before the
Sixty-seventh Congress assemblies.
HARDING WON'T HURRY.
In any event, there is going to be
no hurry in getting at the European
problem. Taxation and tariff and
other domestic affairs are going to DC
cupy the attention of the new Admin
Istration almost exclusively at first,
regardless of European matters.
Secretary of State Hughes is en-
gagged in studying and collating the
state Departments material on the
European situation. When this is
completed and studied with the Chief
Executive policies will begin to ap-
pear. But there Is to be no hurry.