Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-03-11
AMERICA AND THE GENOA CONFERENCE

To those who believe that until the United States
plays her full part in the reconstruction of the world, fol-
lowing the great war, conditions will never be normal, the
refusal of President Harding to participate in the Genoa
conference is disappointing. America can no longer remain
isolated. This country is too large, too important, too pow
erful to hold aloof. The rest of the world is too dependent
upon America, particularly at this time, for this nation to
ignore the plight in which Europe, especially, finds herself.
That the Harding administration realizes that there
must be cooperation between nations if anything worth
while is to be accomplished is evident from the conference
10 discuss limitation of armament which was recently held
in Washington. The precedent established by this confer
cnce is one worthy of following. In fact, President Hard
ing expressed the desire that the conference would be sue
ceeded by others until the getting together of the nations
to discuss their various problems and arrive at peaceful
settlements would become a habit. Of course, this is ex-
actIy what the League of Nations is organized for and all
that is now being said in favor of the treaties that grew out
of the Washington conference applies with even more
force to the League.
The Genoa conference, however, was something out
side the League and was along the line proposed by Presi-
dent Harding. No one for a moment expected that all the
International conferences should be held in America. 1t
was to be expected that just as the other countries sent
delegates here to attend the conference called by the United
States to discusss international problems, so the United
States would send delegates to conferences held in Europe
for similar purpose.
The Genoa conference was declared to be for the pur-
pose of taking up the economic questions of Europe. Am
erica with three-fourths of the gold in the world and with
the European nations owing her billions of dollars, is nat
urally interested in the economic condition of Europe for
until the economic situation there is stabilized Europe
cannot even pay the interest on the debt she owes us, let
alone pay off any of the principal. In fact, a conference
for the purpose of stabilizng the economic condition of
Europe can accomplish little without the participation of
the United States.
pal. In fact, a conference for the purpose of ~stabilizing the
economic condition of Europe can accomplish little without
the participation of the United States.
The two main reasons as set forth by Secretary Hughes
for America not participating arc that this country feels that
The Genoa conference is more of a political than an econ
npn;o. oIo fho nc Tho noco, on.r. -
Russia is to be given recognition by having representa-
lives present to participate, the United States does not
care to be a party to it. TO some people, these reasons
seem superficial, while to others they are entirely adequate.
For the great majority of the American people, how
ever, doubtless believe that the decision not to participate
in the Genoa conference is to the best interest of the United
States. They have the utmost confidence in a man like
Secretary Hughes. He is in a position to know the facts
and his great ability, sound judgment and patriotism wins
1to@ him The hacking of the nation.