Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-05-04
OUR PRESIDENTS WISDOM
INDICATED

Ruth as they We're talking about the
Genoa conference and the secret
treaty between Russia and Germany.
"The whole thing goes back to the
world club plan idea and proves that
the best thing for the United States
is to keep our hands off when it
comes to matters where Europe has
to get her own affairs settled"
well, well,' said Uncle Ted, II
was going to take the car out in the
back OF the house this morning and
clean it up but the day has been too
bad. Now it's night and | can't do
anything on it at all. Guess I'll trot
along to bed and get up early tomor-
row and do some work on the
engine
please don't go to bed right away,
said Jack. I'D like to have you tell
MS a little story anyway about Genoa.
We've been talking about it tonight"
III you promise to go right to bed
when get through so you can get
up and help me in the morning III
tell you something about Genoa. In
the first place there have been many
Of those who were in favor of giving
the United States away in the world
club plan who would have liked to see
us give the country away by joining
in the Geuoa conference. Perhaps
they were right. feel sure they
that they were wrong. The differ
ence between the conference held re-
Gently in Washington ad the one now
going on in Genoa is that the Wash
ington conference was a meeting of
open agreement and understanding
with the main object the reducing Of
armament and the beginning of an
earnest attempt to make war harder
in the future. Eveyone knew and
still knows that we cannot STOP
WAR BY A WAVE OF THE HAND.
The Washington conference was
great success and the representatives
of the various coutries returned
home with better feeling toward
peace in bigger way than ever be-
for.
"The Genoa conference to make
the story short, is conference pre-
sumably called to try and get Europe
in order. 1t is conference of Eu-
ropeans for Europeans just as our
domestic problems are problems first
and foremost concerning the United
States. No one could wish his con-
ference greater success than any
deep thinking American, out Euro
pean intrigues not dead. With Ger
many and Russia participants at
Genoa trouble was due to come and
has come. The first think that was
sprung on the conference was the
news that Russia and Germany had
broken faith with the plans of the
conference and entered into secret
treaty cancelling each Others debts
and making ready to do business to
the detriment Of the rest of Europe.
Every question taken In by that
treaty was question to have been
talked over by the Genoa conference
and of interes to every country re-
presented. There is this much to
say about this treaty = it lets the
rest Of the world know where these
countries stand and, thanks to our
President who has never agreed that
we should mix up in European poll
tiles, the United States is able to
stand back and watch. Our position
today regarding Europe is stronger
than it has ever been.
IF. our President had been think
ing more Of Europe than of home we
would now be represented at Genoa
and we would have become so in
viewed in this mix-up that no one
could tell where it would all end
There is nothing in the present
, trouble at Genoa to worry us, unless
some great changes come in the
future which does not seem possible
"Why did we refuse to join con-
ference ?" asked Jack.
''The United States government,
Jack" said Uncle Ted, politely re-
fused to join that conference because
we knew it would be political con-
ference. Many disagreed with shat
view but the wisdom of our President
and Secretary of State has been
proved now beyond doubt. This
Russo-German treaty proves it is
something real for Euope especially
France, to worry about.
However, while the story is not
all told as yet, we do know this much
We are a peace with Germany Our
ambassador is even now reporting in
Berlin. We have not recognized the
sovient government of Russia and
are not dealing with her. We have
felt. that this conference was Eu-,
Alo~ofor1 x,,,