The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-19


 an invasion of American soyereignty It is to be pledge to the nations of the world that America is ready to do her part always. America volun- tarily will associate herself with the nations in any enterprise which looKs to peace and the betterment of hu manity. America will not hold aloof, or take refuge in her geographical isolation from the principal trouble centers, and will always be ready to listen and to act as her best judg ment dictates.
 Free and Frank.
 The virtual decision that there Is to be free and frank Association with the nations of the world" sn- stead of some possible ponderous ma chimes known as an association" as an indirect answer to the letter President Harding has received from Hamilton Holt, who led 8 group Of prologue republicans in the last campaign, demanding to know what policy the administration had formu- lated looking to American participa- tion in world affairs. The President has indicated no purpose to go into details of the matter with Mir. Holt. The new administration policy, as briefly announced, is In keeping with that paragraph of President Hard ing's speech of acceptance of Marion last summer when he said:
 Disposed as we are the way is very simple. Let the failure attend ing assumption. obstinacy, imprac- ticability and delay be recognized, and let us find the big, practical un selfish way to do our part, neither covetous because of ambition, nor hesitant through fear, but ready to serve ourselves, humanity and Goa. With the Senate advising, as the con- stitution contemplates, ] would hope fully approach the nations of Europe and of the earth, proposing that un- derstanding which makes us will ing participant in the conservation of nations to new relationship, to com init the moral forces of the world. America included, to peace and in- ternational justice, still leaving America free, independent and self reliant, but offering friendship to all the world"
 International Policy.
 The above paragraph, rather than any of the other utterances of MT. Harding on the subject of interna- tional policy, represents the present attitude of the White House toward American association with the na- tions of the world This attitude was
 
 of State Hughes at Brown university this week when he told of the high purposes which called America into the war And it has been reflected in a number of President Harding's talks with callers in recent days
 The statement of the foreign policy is a modification if not a correction of the reports cabled to England from Washington the past week that President Harding favored "a work ing agreement among the English speaking peoples which would be worldwide in it's scope" The Prest- faft desires "a working agreement"
 all the nations of the world. big and small.
 esident knows, however. uh -rt of world order must aorn. rfth agreements with the
 4at pe ets, and that is why his 4eelers have gone first of all to the big nations. The great powers all ways must act as guardians and pro- tectors of the small. and President Harding believes that the plan of vol untary association with the nations of Europe is far better than the cum bersome league assembly and league council which he regarded as an at. tempt to set up a super government of the world.
 At Future Meetings
 The decision on the part of the administration to associate freelx with the nations of the world ex- plains the order to Ambassador liar vey to be present at future meetings of the allied supreme council as rep resentative of the President
 It explains the awakened interest of the United States in world settle ments everywhere.
 It explains above all the sure ness with which Secretary Hughes has been mixing in international af- fairs. America is vitally interested