Evening star., 1922-06-19
RAPS LOOSE TALK
ON ALIEN AFFAIRS
Hughes Urges Keener Civic
Responsibility in Inter-.
national Matters.
By the Associated Press.

ANN ARBOR, Mich, June ia
plea for new sense of civic respon-
sibiliiy in matters of international
concern" in the United States as the
most certain basis of promoting peace
in the world was made here tday by
Secretary Hughes. speaking at the
commencement exercises of the Uni
versity of Michigan. when he received
the honorary degree Of doctor of
laws. Sound public opinion" was
most <sesessary to SUPPORT the ma
tons peaceful diplomatic aims he
said 2 ~
TT must frown upon the constant
efforts to create suspicion. distrust
and hatred" he continued. There
can be no assurance of peace. and
few of the necessary and just settle
ments which make for peace. in 4
world of hate.
1T should be recognized that what
is more necessary than formulas is a
new sense of civic responsibility in
matters of international concern
The chief enemies of peace are those
OF foreign peoples and their govern
ments, who asperse their motives and
visit them with ridicule and insult
Misunaerstoed Abroad.
"Intercommun nication is so easy
that domestic discussions of foreign
affairs are not confined within the
three-mile limit, but are Immediately
published abroad as indicative. not of
sentiment of particular individuals.
who may be OF little relative conse-
quense, but as indicating the senti-
ments of our people. 1t is in this
way that peoples become separated
by mutual distrust, even while their
responsible agents of government
are endeavoring to bring about bene-
fetal settlements and mutual conf
dence
"The principal difficulty at this
is not with method or organizatio
or aims. but with the untruthful
prejudiced and infiammatory discus
sions in which some of our citizens
and certain portions of the press per-
nit themselves to indulge.
"If there is to be less reticence in
diplomacy there must be. il not a
greater reticence. at least keener
sense of responsibility in the discus
sion of international questions. Open
diplomacy and blatant and fnjudi-
cious utterances will not go well to-
gether. The corrective can only be
found in that state Of the public mind
which will unsparingly condemn and
ostraciZe those who by their base inn
putations imperil our friendly rela-
tions with other nations"
Old Diplomacy Displaced.
Mr.. Hughes chose for his subjec,
the title, Some Observations of the
Conduct of Our Foreign Relations
In opening he said that with the de.
velopment of the international con.
ference method Of seeking solution
of international problems a more
direct and flexible" system. had re.
placed "the old diplomacy" one thai
was responsive to democratic sen.
timent"
American diplomacy. >Mr. Hughe.
said, always had deemed itself ac.
countable to public opinion and has
enjoyed the reputation of being can.
did and direct" II anything, he add.
tion has rather suffered from "toc
much regard for politicians and Il
little attention to the necessity fol
special aptitude and training"
Mr.. Hughes dwelt on the difficulty
of developing true public opinion
on matters Of foreign policy aside
from certain readily recognized view.
points approved by generations OF
statesmen and which only q revolu.
tion Of opinion could change.
Ignorance Worse Obstacle.
but in q host of matters" he add.
ed, 'indeed in most cases, there II
no such criterion There are com.
plicated states Of fact which canno'
be understood without an intimat,
knowledge. of historical background
and a ,painstaking and discriminating
analysis of material. There are situa'
tioris of controlling Importance which
are wholly unknown to the genera
public. and which cannot be appre.
ciated without the special informa
tion available only to officers of thu
government.
eThe people cannot Judge wisely
without being informed. and the prob
| lem, Is how to inform them. In deal
| ing with the problem Of developint
sound opinion, the fundamental con
sideration must always be that mis-
information 10 tho publics wors
enemy, more potent for evil than al
1.-THE conspiracfes that are commonl.