The Washington times., 1922-03-17
Time to Think About the
United States

-
ctzensi We have all GOT to be interested with
out choice, in the affairs of the country before long
Business ITSELF prosperity the ability of each to spend
and get what ne wants must now be included in the
word ''politics"
You have observed that the National Government
which ought to interest itself in this country is tied p
exclusively with the affairs of Europe. Only sixteen
months have passed since by seven million plurality the
people notified the Government that they wanted THIS
country looked after little and Europe left to side
The incoming party took the Offices and Immediately
started Washington Conference. Only just escaped
from the League of Nations agreed to an imitation
League, Four Power Treaty. And unless a miracle Of
energetic public effort occurs the million plurality
that refused ANY European mxup will be tied securely
to new treaty within short time
Government and Congressman deliberately flout the
expressed will of the people, because there happens to
be election within a few months But an election
is coming next fa then many including perhaps, Sena-
tor Lodge from Massachusetts, will discover that if the
people are fools, at least they don't like to be told
What is the object of making ourselves directly or
indirectly responsible for the debts, the worries, the
inevitable future fighting of the white nations of Europe
that do not know enough to let each other livei
They remind you of those dogs in Constantinope SO
neatly disposed of by the Germans when they wenfu
to manage the city for the Turks. The first thing was
to collect all the bowling dogs and put them un-
inhabited island There they devoured each other, and
that settled them
1t would have been foolish for anybody to 70 to that
island while the dogs tearing each other
1t is foolish for us to insist sending Uncle Sam
to Europe. His pockebook, big it is, wouldn't last
long And matter what he does he will not be thanked
quite the contrary.
The most intelligent country in Europe is France, as
able and hitherto marvellous in financial manage
ment. What is the financial condition of Francei Here
is the answer:
Her debts have steadily increased since the war ended
At the end of this fiscal year they will amount to 467
billion francs about ninety billion dollars at normal ex
change rates. The interest charge the debt will exceed
twentyone thousand million francs year. That will
absorb the entire income of France without leaving
anything to pay her public officials insure any of the
public service" These figures given by Henri
Cheron, in charge of the French budget.
France, like Belgium, is waiting for the conquered
golden German goose to lay gigantic golden egg-and
that goose isn't GOING to lay the egg for it isn't IN
the goose to lay it.
France has army of almost million, Belgium has
army of two hundred thousand Poland has gigantic
army What this country do in situation like
that of Europe, with all the good will in the world Why
| jump into the maelstromi
Let the Government of this country look after THIS
country, think about it's five millions of unemployed men,
its silent factories the wheels that not turning, its
freight idle its farmers close to bankruptcy.
! Let us learn craftsmanship by observation.
| The English came and got what they wanted. They
must have control of the We about to take
it from them. At their request not only stopped
building batteshps, but junked ships that had cost
three hundred millions of dollars. Nominay they have
the same fleet have. Actually we might as well
not be the at ALL For their great commercial
fleet plus the battle fleet represents the real power
| Japan also and got what she wanted. English
engineers had shown that by fortfying Guam in the
Philippines could make ourselves forever safe from
attack by Asia Mr.. Balfour and the smooth Japanese
talked to four little provincial gentlemen sitting in
row. and with criminal stupidity this country pledged
itself not to protect itself with Eastern fortifcatons
No hurry for Japan We to await her pleasure.
Meanwhile England continues Notifications and the
tabshment of coalng stations everywhere the globe
Very intelligent nation she s We must not blame her
feel bitter toward her. because happen to be repre-
sented by provincial nnocens while she is represented
by statesmen of the first rank.