Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-06-09
Friday. June g, 1922.
NOT GOOD DIPLOMACY

Considerable water has run under
the diplomatic bridge since President
Washington in 1894 had Citizen"
Edmond Charles Genet recalled by
France for interfering with the do
mostic affairs of this country. That
gentleman. it will be remembered en-
and other means to force the United
states to take sides with France in
against England- The services
which Francc-not the French revo-
were fresh in the popular mind and
tho people felt kindly disposed. But
know that such a performance should
not be tolerated, although he was
very patient. Notwithstanding the
Presidents proclamation of neutrali-
~ Genet as minister of France went
aiming and cquipping privateers in
uUr ports and raising recruits. The
situation became a delicate one but
Washington was big enough to deal
with il effectively.
This result could not be expected
tG prevent similar efforts to influence
Tie country in behalf of the interests
Of others but has served to deter and
M instance quite so fragrant has
since occurred. Yet, all along,
hccn continued and was dangerously
in evidence during the last war and
we arc flooded with propaganda at
the present time 1t assumes often
insidiOus forms. 1t COOS with the
brothcrly love we should wipe out all
debts owed to us, that we should
forcgo the making of wares which
our foreign friends would like to
make, I.rrnit them to transport our
goods in their ships and desist from
shipping in our own, that we are too
rich TO enter the heaven of a world
peace and lie loved by the inmates.
The doing of this is comparatively
easy. We lave no press censorship
4tf-H, f,,t. nrl,
undue confidence in our ability TO sift
the grain from the chaff, and as a
matter Of fact have been pretty sue
ccaaful in accomplishing it after
time. Nevertheless we properly re-
eCnt this propagandizing when it be-
comes too barefaccd. Perhaps Sen
ator Watson was unduly emphatic
when he criticized foreign represent
attlcs for interfering in our domestic
affairs. tho tariff, immigration and
The Ike. Perhaps he was a bit too
eager to avail himself of the preju-
dice which would he aroused on ac-
count of such propaganda once the
purpose Of It was revealed. 1t is
woll, however to lave the public
aware ot the purposes behind the
statements made
The British ambassador. rococniz-
Ing tho propricty Of the policy Of
non interference with the affairs of
tho country to which the diplomat is
assigned, appears to have kept n stem
orraphic report of his utterances
which varies materially from the re-
rort quoted hv Senator Watson. The
Italian ambassador declares he has
kept his hands of immigration, pro-
EIhition and 50 forth but that the tar
tff is IN International question which
io has a light 70 discuss. This posi-
tion may ho questioned. Tho import
arcc ~ what he says is not due to the
fact that he is an Italian and famili-
ar with the other side of the aues-
tion under discussion. but to the fact
that he is the accredited representa-
two of tho Italian government and
speaks as tho mouth-pi:ce of that
government. rs such. telling the
American people what is what is a
delicate Undertaking in that it is sus-
Ccptihle OF misconstruction from sew
eral points OF view. One may well
doubt whether tho doing Of this is
good diplomacy or likely to serve the
calculations of those making use Of
Il.