Evening star., 1923-10-24
PRESIDENTS STAND
ON AID TO EUROPE
VOICED BY HARVEY
London Speech Held Inspired
by White House Visit.
Hughes Offer Unchanged.
BIZ DAVID LAWRENCE.

4
Ambassador George Harvey's fare
well speech. telling Great Britain in
formally that the United States is
anxious to help Europe, but that the
door has been closed by Europe her
self. is exactly in line with the feel
ing of the Washington administra-
tion, and may be regarded as an an
swer to all the pleas for American aid
which lately have been directed to-
ward this country
Former Prime Minister Lloyd George,
Premier Smuts of South Africa, and
publicists galore have been continu-
ally saying that the United States
could help Europe and must help. But
the revelation by Ambassador Harvey
that the door has been closed and no
invitation for American help issued
is the truth of a situation no more
enjoyed by the American government
than by the Europeans who want the
United States to help.
Deor CI0Sed by France,
The government which closed the
door is France and the individual
responsible is Premier Poincare.
Practically all of Europe may ask for
America to interfere in arranging
the reparations problem or the eco
nomic situation generally. but uninvited
by the principals the United States
will not heed the request. For the fact
! Is that the desire for American aid Is
today almost unanimous in Europe, but
| the single dissent is sufficient to keep
America away.
So while appeals may come from all
| quarters OF the globe, the United
| States will wait for an invitation from
France. Except for the publication of
| speeches like that of Ambassador
i Harvey, which in itself is a signifi-
J cant event, the United States govern
ment will not renew its proffers of
help.
| The speech made by Secretary of
State Hughes at New Haven last year
still stands as American policy, and
! whether the plan proposed therein
now is out OF date and needs modifi-
! cation, or whether some other plan
| which Will be more effective is pro-
, posed, nothing will be done by Amer
| lea until an explicit request for in
tervention comes from all the princi-
| pal powers.
Must Have Invitation.
The position of the Coolidge admin
| istration, as outlined by Ambassador
| Harvey, who, il will be remembered
spent several days in intimate con-
ference with the new President az
4 nprQnnQI ot Ixyt
House, is that America respects the
underlying principle of a Monroe doc
trine applied to Europe-namely, that,
while the United States would brook
no intervention from Europe unless
invited, so Europe can hardly expect
the United States to take the initia :
| tive in anything In the old world nm
| less invited.
The opposite viewpoint is held. of
course, by the democrats, who con-
tend that America doesn't have to be
| invited to engage actively in nIans
for the rehabilitation of Europe he
! cause american commerce is directly
| involved and because America be-
came partner In the allied and asSo-
ciated power group in April. 1917 and
retains the privileges Of a prfncfpal
The United States is still insisting
| upon the exercise Of legal rights de.
| rived from that partnership agree
ment ana the co-operationists say
] this imposes on America the obIipa
ton of using her diplomatic influence
! for the settlement of all problems
! that may be located in Europe.
| Ambassador Harvey's speech is an
| accurate reflection of the cautious
| policy of the present administrator
! here, but 1t does not necessarily give
| the viewpoint of the opposition party
| in America.
Copyright, 1921