Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-06-20
A NEW SENSE Of
Responsibility
PLEA Of HUGHES
Must FroWn on Efforts to
Create Suspicion; Cannot
Have Peace In a World
of Hate, Declares.
The Associated pres..l


Ann Arbor, Mich, June ia
plea for "new sense of civic re-
sponsibility in matters of interna-
tional concern" in the United
States as the most certain basis OF
promoting peace in the world, was
made here today by Secretary
Hughes at the commencement eX-
ercises of the University of Michi-
gan. Sound public opinion" was
most necessary to support the ma
tion's peaceful diplomatic aims
he said. "It must frown upon the
constant efforts to create suspicion,
distrust and hatred" he contin-
ued. There can be no assurance
of peace, and few of the necessary
and Just settlements which make
for peace, in world of hate.
"It should be recognized that
what is more necessary than FORM
ulas is new sense of civic respon-
sibility in matters of international
concern. The chief enemies of
peace are those who constantly in
dulge in the abuse of foreign peo-
pies and their governments who
asperse their motives and visit
them with ridicule and insult.
"Intercommunication is so easy
that domestic discussions of foreign
affairs are not confined within the
three mile limit but are immedi-
ately published abroad as indicative
not OF the sentiment of particular
individuals, who may be OF little
relative consequence but as indi-
eating sentiments of our people. 1t
is in this way that peoples become
separated by mutual distrust, even
where their responsible agents of
government are endeavoring to
bring about beneficial settlements
and mutual confidence.
Principal Difficulty.
1.-THE principal difficulty at this
time in our conduct of foreign af-
fairs, is not with methods. or or
ganization, or aims, but with the
untruthful prejudiced and inflam-
matory discussions in which some
of our citizens and certain portions
of the press permit themselves to
indulge.
III there Is to be less reticence
in diplomacy, there must be If not
greater reticence, at least keen
er sense Of responsibility in the
discussion Of international oues-
tions. Often diplomacy and blat-
ant and injudicious utterances will
not go well together. The correc-
tive can only be found in that state
or the public mind which will un-
sparingly condemn and ostracize
those who by their base imputa
tions imperil our friendly relations
with other pations."
Mr.. Hughes dwelt on the diff
Guilty Of obtaining true public
opinion on matters of foreign DOL
ICY, aside from certain readily rec
ognized viewpoints approved by
generations of statesmen and
which only revolution opinion
can change.
Complicated States OF Fact
But In host of matters" he
added, indeed in most cases there
Is no such criterion. There are
complicated states OF fact which
cannot be understood without an
intimate knowledge Of historical
background and a painstaking and
discriminating analysis of material.
ihere are situations of controlling
importance which are wholly un-
known to the general public and
Whlcn cannot be appreciated with
OUT the special information avail
able only to officers of the gov
ernment.
The people cannot Judge wisely
without being informed and the
problem is how to inform them.
In dealing with the problem of de-
veioping sound opinion the funda-
mental consideration must always
be that misinformation is the pub
lies worst enemy, more potent for
evil than all the conspirators that
are commonly feared.