Evening star., 1923-02-25
Prestige of America Abroad Enhanced
By the Policy and Abilities of Hughes

cannot be carried to q successful conclusion
on the open market place or under the un-
friendly eyes Of prying public.
\ + 4 y
Nor Is there anything to warrant tho asser-
ton that the United States has suffered In tho
regard In which It Is held abroad since the
present administration came into power, and
since Charles Evans Hughes was placed by
President Harding at the helm OF tho State
Department Quite the contrary 10 the case.
II any doubt remained on the subject, It should
surely be dispelled by the debate which took
place in tho British house Of commons, at
Westminster, Monday last, when almost
every statesman taking part in the discussion
OF the French occupation OF the Ruhr laid
stress on the paramount necessity Of not mere
ly the participation Of the United States. but
even Of It's leadership in the eventual and in
evitable mediation. Lloyd George advocated
it's immediate adoption. His successor at No.
10 Downing street, Price Minister Bonar Law
quite agreed IN the necessity OF mediation
jointly with the United States. but insisted
that tho moment had not yet come for any
such move. which, at present, would be con-
strued as an act OF hostility to France and OF
support to Germany. Indeed, he argued that
nothing could be hoped for the present from
the State Department. which was IN tho posi-
tion Of lawyer who would choose his
time, since II he chose we'll, good results could
be obtained. whereas. II he did prema-
turely, nothing but harm would ensue
X X X X
ica-one of the most colossal transactions of q
financial nature that have ever taken place be-
tween two great powers-was SO satisfactorily
carried through with minimum Of friction
and OF opposition, 1t was mainly due to the
preliminary arrangements which had been
worked out by Secretary Hughes IN conjunc-
tion with Secretary Mellon and Sir Auckland
Geddes. The matter, indeed. would have been
carried through within q few days after the
arrival In this country OF tho British chan
cellor OF the excheQuer had 1t not been for the
misleading information furnished to the Brit
fish government in London by certain OF those
all too many American visitors abroad who,
without due warrant. assume to speak in for
eign countreis in the name of President Hard
ing and OF his administration.
In fact, whatever Misunderstanding that
have taken place with foreign governments in
the past year have been mainly due to perhaps
we'll meaning, but nevertheless. presumptuous
interference OF these amateur diplomats, whose
mistakes the Secretary OF State has been sub
seQuently called upon to straigEten out. II
the Secretary Of State had done nothing else
than pave the way with Sir Auckland Geddes
and Secretary Mellon to the mutually salts
factory arrangement Of Great Britain's huge
debt in America, he would have left his mark
for all time in the history Of the world For
its results quite beyond calculation, and
il is the greatest achievement since the
cIusion OF the arnistice in November, 1918,
greater even than the misnarned peace OF YER
saflles. whereas the latter has bred nothing
Dut unrest, olSSenslon, aoolronA wars. ana the
prospect Of still further sanguinary strife. the
funding Of the Angfo-American debt has been
q master stroke In behalf Of the restoration Of
economic stability and revival OF peace and
prosperity throughout the world. Nowhere is
this realized more strongly than in London, In
Paris and in the principal capitals and busi-
centers Of Europe. and even OF Asia
X X
Still another claim to the good will OF Sec
retary Hughes countrymen and to the high
regard Of foreign nations was his organza-
tion OF the disarmament conference OF q year
ago. Altogether aside from its contribution
to the cause Of peace, It brought the leading
statesmen Of the old world all the way to
Washington to enter into personal and inti-
mate relations with the heads OF the govern
Inent OF tho United States. and among the
many fruits OF the conference was the elimi-
nation OF every trace OF the uneasiness which
had been created in America by England's now