The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-11-27
THE OPINION OF A SOLDIER.

Il
tangling alliances should convince afresh
those who have maintained throughout much argu-
ment that America must not allow herself to be
made cats paw for hauling the .chestnuts Of for
eign difficulties, out of a fire kept ablaze by old
world 1ealousies and hatreds. ~.
America has been roundly criticized for send
Ing representative to sit in the Lausanne confer
enee, although refusing to permit the United
States to take any responsibility in Strengthening
up the affairs Of the Turk. General PershinE In
his Armistce Day speech justified this attitude
when he said.
THE developments which have taken place In
the Near East sufficiently indicate the danger
which America runs OF becoming involved in the
tangled mesheS of this racial religious and politi-
cal situation" adding after setting forth condi-
tons prevailing in Central Europe "If have con-
sidered 1t pertinent to indicates that we cannot
regard with indifference developments taking
place around these great storm :enters. have
done so only with view of emphasizing the close
attention which they should receive that we may
clearly understand the issues at stake and thus
avoid entanglements adverse to our own peaceful
purposes."
Pershing is an army man. He is a man to whom
the prestige Of the American army is very dear.
He doubtless viewed with sadness the drastic re-
duetion OF our land forces and felt the deepest
sympathy for the many army officers who were re-
tired and faced future that was largely a blank
Warfare for America would mean powerful armies.
It, would mean opportunity and fresh fame for
Rershing himself. American Intervention in the
Near East and American responsibility for peace
in other lands, would certainly make work for the
army, for words must backed by might but PERISH
ing sees farther than personal glory, and sees
farther than the proud ranks of great land force
He sees the bitter experiences OF the World War,
and remembers the fight he had to keep an Ameri-
can army abroad under an American flag, and
obedient to American command. He sees the dan
ger Of an American subseryiant to combined de-
mand Of Europe. Pershing had taste of 1t and it
was enough, even though circumstances then justi-
fed the opportunities OF French and English as
subsequent events could never justify. This is
again emphasized when Pershing declared,
"As in the World War we declined to allow
our army to lose its identity or to be submerged
in the commands OF other nations. SO should we
now resist all efforts to have our strength and
Influence used for Interior purposes foreign to our
own ideals. AS we then insisted upon one Ameri-
can army, upon an American 'front.' under the
American flag, so should we now insist In world
affairs that all Americas strength be concentrated
to service under the will OF our own citizens, and
for the maintenance Of our own conception of
American destiny. The doctrine of international.
ism has found too much advocates in our midst
and not alonge among those who. come to US with
Interior motives, but among many Of our own peo-
ple 1t is in opposition to falacious theories that
threaten our national life that thoughtful men arc
bound by closest ties"
There is no right thinking citizen who desires
America to stand utterly aloof and do nothing 70
alleviate conditions abroad That is not the idea.
America always stands ready and willing when the