New-York tribune., 1921-11-27
British Ready
To Speed Work
On Association
Continued from pase enc)

conference proves their contention that
the -iorld must be handled not In con-
tinents, but as a whole. Last week /
stated that one way to deal with the
misgivings Of France would be to get
in touch with Germany on the other
side of the Rhine and examine into the
allegations which France advances
against her neighbor. 1t was there
fore with particular curiosity that I
noticed the mention by President Har-
ding of such an approach to the Cen
trail Powers. An invitation to Germany
to visit Washington and make her de-
fense would be welcomed by Great
Britain. It would reduce the emotions
both Of Germany and of France to the
one standard Of truth and logic.
l must, however, make 1t plain that
to this day the League Of Nations,
meeting as 1t does amid the cross cur
rents of Europe, has not dared to in
the part of France there has been hith-
erto an embittered and easily under
stood opposition to any such invitation
being given. In fact, it has been OBJ
vious that if Germany were to come
into the league France would in all
probability walk out of the league. At
| Geneva the league lacks the authority
attaching to the United States Of
America. There is no one country TAX
| ing initiative with the influence and
prestige behind it which are accorded
felt by responsible British statesmen
that France RAY find herself able to
concedc to the Washington conference
what she has refused to the League Of
Nations. In other words, if the Ger
mans were invited to state their case
at Washington it was not believed that
France would press objection to the
point of leaving the discussions to take
care of themselves.
Britain Prefers Association
1t goes without saying that Great
Britain would much rather belong to
an association Of nations with the
United States included than a League
of Nations which the United States
refuses to join. But it is obvious ia
her, as to other nations of the league
that the change from one organization
to the other will involve delicate tech
nicalities. The league is in being. 1t
has it's secretaries, its committees, its
records, its various Ggenda and pro-
grams. 1t is actually reporting upon
the very problems of disarmament
which are before the Washington con-
ference. Is "the league" to conti-ue
side by side with "the association ?
Is the league to be, absorbed by the
association? Or is the league to be
scrapped or to die a death by inani
tion? These are held to be interest
ing and pertinent inquiries.
1t is not supposed that such ques
fiOpo oro mt opc;o11,, Tko .1.S:..
of the task before Secretary Hughes i:
fully recognized and it Is known tha,
he can only take one step at a time
The view Of Britain is that if Mr.
Hughes can form "an association" O.
which the United States will be mem
Der he should do SO. Then it will b,
for nations in the league to ad;us
themselves and the league to the new
situation.
: must add that it is now impo ossibl,
to ignore very general discussion, b,
no means confined to one delegation
OF what will be the form Of tn,
treaties, agreements or understanding
> which will embody the findings of th
Washington conference. 1t is under
, stood that Mr.. Hughes hopes to writ
some such documents. On more tina,
, one occasion he has indicated that thi
is ms purpose and intention.
A'"i" 40 country which gets Of
9 without written constitution, as i
has been truly said there is no Articl
> < in the British Empire. From tn
British standpoint therefore, the doc
> uments should be few and short an,
much should be left to good faith
: But we are none the less forced t.
E speculate upon one aspect of the con
Z ference on which more is likely t,
be heard as the weeks pass: To wha
extent may we safely assume in ad
vance that Congress will ratify tn
undertakings presented to and accept
ed by the conference? There will b.
no wish to revive the Disappointing
with which Europe was overwhelrne e,
when the Treaty of Versailles fel
through in the United States. Bu
that piece of history is none the les
in the minds of all the delegates visit
n ing Washington. Few of them con
. slider themselves to be competent +
= hold an opinion about the vicissitude
of politics at the Capitol. And he
:. cause they know themselv to be with
b out guidance in that subject thew ar
the more anxious to arrive at reIiabl
:, enlightenment upon it,
; Missing Passports of 30
u. S. Soldiers Wives Foun.