Evening star., 1922-03-19
j. S. SEEN SH|RK|NG
RESPONSIBILITIES
Britain Feels She Has Equal
Moral Right to Stay Aloof
From Genoa:
SEEN AS AID TO TURKS
Monroe Doctrine Called Dead and
Standing in Way Of
Reconstruction.
SEEN AS AID TO TURKS
BY GEORGE BARNES,
British Parliament Leader.


By Radio to The Star.
LONDON, March 1S.-Refusal of
the United States to participate in
the Genoa conference Is regretted
keenly here. We can understand the
point Of Secretary Hughes underlying
his reply to the Italian invitation.
We have a good deal Of sympathy
with 1t. He sees a Europe wasting
it's remaining substance in bloated
armaments. and certain European
nations ostentatiously repudiating
their debts while leaving their
peoples inadequately taxed.
Yet, while subscribing to all this,
We might even add some reasons OF
our own which might justify US in
leaving other European nations to
stew in their own juice. Italy and
France, for instance. at this very
riers against importation of our
goods. Lenin Is proclaiming loudly
an Intention on the part of boIshevist
Russia to assume an attitude at
Genoa against capitalist" countries
ing multitudes Of his starving peo-
pie.
Under these provocative circum-
stances We. too. might decline Coop
Grafton IL we were led by the prompt
But we should lose by isolation, and
we should retard the economic re-
covery of Europe.
It is true that neither reparations
nor disarmament specifically are in
cluded In the program for Genoa. 1t
is, however. inconceivable that an in
ternational conference could be held
without taking note Of the facts re-
garding both of these subjects now
becoming visible to the naked eye
On Equal Terms.
Germany, at Genoa, for the first
time will meet the allied powers on
equal terms. Russia may get indus
trial redemption on terms consistent
with civilization.
Moreover, Genoa is to be preceded
by a session Of the imperial war
council for the discussion of the near
east problems, and these decisions
may lead to still further clearing
Greek still are in state of war. 1t
seems certain that the recent procla-
nation of the Indian government
urging restoration to the Moslems
Of the holy places may open the eyes of
the Greeks to the need for ending bel
ugerency.
The uncertainty and final aloof-
ness Of the United States easily may
prove the cause of the Turk getting
! more than his moral deserts. Had
an eastern mandate been accepted on
=, the other side of the Atlantic, as the
utterances Of President Wilson in
Paris had led many to expect, that
fact of itself would have had an
enormous effect in the solution of the
postwar eastern problems.
Another very material factor in the
situation has been the refusal of the
United States Senate to ratify the
triple pact for the protection of
France. The alleged defenseless con
upon which the bloated armaments
Of that country have been justified.
This has left us. here in England.
with added burdens.
Monroe Doctrine Dead.
We, therefore. had anticipated
American cooperation in the project
| ed Genoa conference. which was de-
signed to ease political antaSoniSms
and to open the way to economic re-
construction. The Monroe doctrine
and political considerations in the
United States have stood in the way
of both the eastern mandate and the
! promise of Mr.. Wilson to France.
have no right to criticize Ameri-
can politicians in regard to their in
ternal affairs, but I may be permitted
to record the view prevalent here
! that the Monroe doctrine is somewhat
out of date. In Its original. form 1t
+. neither was framed nor intended to
keep the United States from particle
patton in European affairs. That was
an afterthought. The doctrine really
was of British origin. 1t was sug-
gested by Canning to President Mon
roe as a means of protection for the
! infant republic against the fntrigues
| of European autocfats. 1t has. as
matter of fact, never prevented the
United States from extending her
rule elsewhere.
1t cannot survive in any form per-
manently the logic of the facts that
/ have arisen from the United States
making common cause with the allies
in the recent war and. in any case. it
singularly is inapplicable to the
, liquidation of postwar problems be-
uueathed to the United States as well
as to the allied peoples who fought
, with the United States in the war.