Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-04-06
"Rcycrsing" Wilson Policies

| IN the course of his campaign for the presi-
| i dency, Warren G. Harding solemnly an
Eounced that, If elected, he would reverse
| the foreign policies of the Wilson admins
tration. This he did III his Des Moines
speech aud he repeated his sweeping decla-
ration time and again thereafter.
That Mr.. Harding dared DO nothing of
the sort was believed by most American
people al the time. and the conviction has
Ieen strengthened since. He may refuse
to enter the league of nations and he may
continue to rcpudiate the treaty of Yer
lilies. but that does not constitute re-
I versa OF the Wilson foreign policies. 1t is
one thing TO reject the Wilson peace pro-
gram, but il is quite another thing to grant
recognition to the Soviet government cOf
Russia, which Mr. Wilson withheld; to in
tervenc in Mexico which Mr.. Wilson re-
fused to do; to give Japan free hand in
exploiting China, which MIR. Wilson denied,
or to abandon all interest in international
mandates, which Mr.. Wilson held
So far the new President has reversed
nothing at all that his predecessor adopted
rs n foreign policy True. the party as a
whole to which Mr.. Harding belongs has
turned its back upon the peace plan which
Mr.. Wilson laid before the American peo-
lie. But it proceeded that far long before
the Ohioian was nominated. 1t did that in
the Republican Senate and affirmed its stand
l.. its convention platform. There was moth
ing left for the nominee, late the President
elect and still later the President to do
but to bring himself into accord with that
action.
But convention days and campaign days
and the days of the Prcsident-elect honey
moon" have passed. The time for decisive
action has come and Mr.. Harding must act
~. cin Il 1,t toll IL to
business of soliciting votes: he is In the
business OF delivering the goods. and while
he has delivered little to date, lie has moved
far enough in that direction to remove any
impression that may have existed as TO his
determination TO reverse the policies OF his
predecessor
First of all. lie has called upon the United
States Senate to ratify the pending treaty
with Colombia, treaty negotiated by the
Wilson administration, treaty submitted
by President Wilson and IA treaty which was
vigorously urged by the Democratic execu-
tive.
In the next place, Mr.. Harding through
his Secretary of State. has announced that
he will adopt the Wilson policy regarding
Americas interest in the zap mandate. He
has announced further that this admins
'ration will surrender no American right
anywhere IN The world. league membership
no league membership. In doing that
Secretary Hughes stands, OF course upon
the Wilson note dealing with Mcsopotamia
1t may be assumed, too, that Judge
Hughes, as he goes deeper and deeper into
foreign relationship will find more and more.
Wilson policies which cannot be reversed
and which will not be reversed. Mr.. Hard
ing will so along. He cannot fail TO do
so, and he will wish before many months
have passed that lie had not been too hasty
iii announcing his program OF Wholesale
reputation of the International activities of
his predecessor.