The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1922-06-02
ocoOccoCc COO COCO
WASHINGTON LETTER.


Washington, d. c. - 1.-THE Harding
administration would have stultified
itself had it accepted the invitation of
the allied govTnments to attend the
forthcoming conference at The
Hague, declares the Republican Pub
licity Association mo phase of the
foreign police of the United States in
the past year has been clearer than
that relating to Europe in genral and
to Russia in particular 1t ehas been
repeated on numerous occasions by
President Harding and Secretary
Hughes. until every citizens of our
own country who reads is familiar
with it and every foreigner who cares
to inform himself has made its ac-
quaintance.
president Harding had been in the
White House little more than month
when the State Department declared
its position toward Russia. 1t was
plainly stated that the United States
could have no official intercourse with
the Russians until productivity had
been made secure in that country. !
thereby establishing suitable bases OF
credit. There has been no deviation |
from that policy and that is where the |
United States stands today.
when the Genoa conference was
called it became apparent that the
Russian question would be the para
mount subject of discussion; in other
words, that the conference would be
political rather than economic. The
United States declined to participate
in those deliberations for that reason.
Tho soundness of that position was
strikingly emphasized when 1t was
disclosed at the conference that Sc
cret treaty had been made between
Germany and Russia tending to set 1T I
naught any efforts the allies might I
make for, general understanding in
Eurore. The willingness of this coun-
try to contribute to the economic well
fare of Europe has been demonstrated
on occ asions too numerous to men
ton, but it is no true American who
would wish to see his countr YIN
volved in political chickering's such as
featured the Genoa meeting. II
with their year-old policy toward
Russia and the revelations Of the
Genoa conference before them, Pres
ident Harding and Secretary Hughes
did not hesitate in framing their reply
to the allied invitation to The Hague
meeting. 1t was unequivocal NO.
coupled with reiteration of the
American attitude regarding Russia.
1t is true that the United States indi-
Gated a willingness to join the allied
governments in arranging for an in
quiry by experts into the economic
situation in Russia and the necessary
remedies" But of course participa-
ton in such an inquiry is totally diff
ferent from representation in the
Hague parleys. The one would be
merely to assemble facts, while the
other will be an attempt to act upon
such information as may be at hand.
consistency is one fthe prime
virtues of the present national admin
istration. Every voter in the country
knows Just where President Harding
stands today upon any subject upon
which he has made statement in the
past. Anyone who read Secretary
Hughes pronouncement as to Russia
Dr. his declination to attend the Genoa
would have known with
out reading it the tenor of his reply
% The Hague invitation. Nothing con-
.ributed so much to Mr. Wilson's loss {
If prestige in Paris as his constant
wobbling to fit the changing situation,
and nothing is aiding SO much in win
hing back the respect of Europe as the
international policies OF
he Republican Administration"