New-York tribune., 1921-10-20
Ending Anglophobia

Ending Anglophobia
In his notable keynote address yes
terday at Yorktown President Har-
ding said q war between the United
States and Great Britain is "un-
thinkable."
Thus did the President happily
respond to the recent utterance of
the British Prime Minister, who
spoke of "a solemn pledge given to
the valiant dead that these two
mighty peoples who were comrades
in the World War have resolved to
remain comrades to guarantee a
great peace"
But let us, at least for moment,
forego compliment and show respect
for a great cause by candor. 1t is
said war between the two peoples is
unthinkable. Would it were so. But,
alas! too many not only think it but
talk of it. More than one genera
ton of petty American politicians
have devoted themselves to twisting
the British lions tail.
Sometimes it has been to hoodwink
those whose emotional center is Ire
land, and recently It has been to
cater to those whose major interest
is Germany. In every conceivable
way there have been attempts to
keep alive feelings born of the mis-
deeds of George III, of the War of
1912 and of the unhandsome be
havior of many British leaders when
disunion threatened the life of the
Republic Public men might he
friends to Great Britain in their
closets but not on the stump.
Men and women who have recog-
nized that q statute of limitations
runs against memory Of old wrongs
and have seen that it was peculiarly
desirable to have concords between
peoples which in many things are
strikinglv alike have been browbeat-
en-attacked as Anglomaniacs, as
contemplate imitators of alien ways.
To dwell on the good qualities Of
other peoples was permissible, but
Great Britain was always bad.
Thomas Jefferson, ignoring the out
RACES he had catalogued, wrote be-
fore his death that he would rather
have good relations with Great Brit
ain than with any other power, and
expressed a hope, If war ever came
to US, that we would fight on the
same side with our former foe.
But Jefferson was about the last
American statesman to express such
opinions. 1t has been q convention
Of our politics that robust verbal an
tagonism to Great Britain was safe.
Indeed, one vainly racks memory to
recall another American President
who has spoken as President Har-
ding did yesterday.
Yet by emphasizing the supreme
necessity of close union between the
United States and Great Britain the
President strikes at the heart of the
peace problem. No one can tell what
conditions viii exist fifty years
hence; but so far as concerns the I'M
mediate future q wholesome associa-
tion Of nations is impossible unless
there is an end to American and
British discords, with whole-hearted
friendship and confidence Of each ma
ton In the other.
This special drawing together
must, Of course, not be exclusive ir
It's spirit. French sympathy and ai(
are also essential, likewise that ol
Italy and that of the lesser power.
which genuinely want peace. But not
d step forward can be made unles.
at the center Of an alliance for peace
are the two English-speaking peo
pies.
Great Britain scems to have per
rnanently shaken off her old anti
American psychology. All her par
ties and elements join in wooin@
America. In return we must, if W,
would have peace, conquer the re
mains Of any Anglophobia that still
grip us-must subdue the prejudice
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