Arizona republican., 1922-06-25
Saws Accept Responsibility

.0dYS Accept TtSSROHSt6iitLJ
America should accept her pres
ent magnificent opportunity for
leadership in the Near East and not
take shelter behind a mistaken plea
for isolation, DIR. Arthur Z. Bestor
told a large audience of American
club women, wednesday now gather
ed at Chautauqua.
Our home problems are not so
complicated and difficult, the
speaker declared, that we have not
enough strength, enough money or
enough men and women to continue
our influence and our leadership
where it is so much needed and so
much desired"
His speech had to do with re-
cent trip through Europe and the
Eastern Mediterranean. He dwelt at
length upon the high estimation in
which Americans are held in the
Near East. and praised the work of
the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton. the Young Women's Christian
Association and the American Relief
Administration.
Referring to the political situation,
DR. Bestor said:
.There are certainly many reasons
for Pessimism. AS yet there is no
peace in Europe or in Asia. Every
where one sees military establish
ments and great numbers of soldiers.
Then there is the loss of men and of
productivity. In the Lebanons alone
over 100000 people died of starva-
ton and typhus and other results of
the war. One-half of all the males
in Serbia between Is and so died
during the war Every where there
are untitled fields and devastated
areas because men are not available
for their cultivation and their clear
ing. There is everywhere universal
debt and men and women wonder
not whether they will ever be re-
leased from these burdens but
whether their children may ever ex-
pect to be free. There are drastic
tariff barriers everywhere. Except
in England there Is hardly bal
anced budget in any country which
was engaged in the war. There are
difficulties over Preparations. The
exchange is in such a chaotic state
that it is either so high that no one
can buy from you, or so low that you
cannot buy from anyone else. Yet
there are 100, 0000 people in
Europe who must live by the export
trade. When one analyses and re-
views these conditions there is every
reason for a feeling of discourage
ment and pessimism for the imme-
diate outlook. But this is only one
side of the picture. There are many
indications of a sincere desire to find
a better way of settling these diff
culties between nations and peoples.
These peoples are weary of war and
Of economic struggles. They sim
cerely want peace and the opportun-
ity of working out their political,
social and economic salvation
The speaker then explained why
Great Britain and France in his
opinion, could not give education
and inspiration to this part of the
world and keep order in these un-
settled areas. and he laid emphasis
on the idea that he was not advocat-
ing mandate for the United States
But Europe has confidence in the
unselfishness and good faith OF
America" DR.. Bestor went on. "Our
position in the world is now recog-
nized as it could not possibly have
been recognized in 1914. 1t is trut
that the war could not have beer
won without us. We are fecognizHd
as the one nation which is disintef-
ested and unselfish. We have ne
quarrels with any other nation. iii
harmful ambitions. no imperialism
as that word ought to be defined
and no fear of any other nation. W.
should participate in all matters eoii.
nected with the settlements IL
Europe and the Near East because u]
because OF our dlsinterestedness aia1
because of tremendous investmenf
in educational enterprises and M.