Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-31
Brilliant Beginning


New York Wor!d-Democratic)
In the ablest state paper he ever
wrote. Mr.. Hughes has served notice
that there is a President in the White
House and secretary of state in the
state department. AS result Of the
Hughes note, the country is able to
feel for the first time since the
Washington conference that~there is
an administration in office which
knows it's own mind, possesses it's
own soul and is thinking not about
the threatenings of faction but
about the mseries and dangers of
the world and of the underlying in
terests of the American people. Free
ident Coolidge and Secretary Hughes
have crossed the Rubicon. They
have taken counsel of courage and
not Of fear. They have decided to
deal with the problems of mankind
rather tt pm with the manoeuvres of
POLITICIANS
What they propose is reasonable in
principle. 1t is necessary in the cir
cumstances of the world. 1t is per-
fectly timed, since it comedies with
the breakdown of German resistance
and the breakdown Of Separation in
spired by France. 1t is diplomatic in
the best sense of the word, because
by refusing to challenge the legal au-
thority of the purposed investigation
advisory to the PREPARATION commits
sion, M. Poincare is not able to argue
that the treaty is being scrapped. 1t
is in the interest of the United States
since it's interest is the peace and
stability of the world. 1t is in accord
with the traditions of the United
States, in that it involves no political
ENHANCEMENT whatsoever and yet re-
stores this country as a leader for
peace and as an influence for reason
and good will.
President Coolidge and Secretary
Hughes could hardly have hoped for
a more brilliant beginning. They
can hardly have expected the French
government to agree so quickly, and
Mr.. Hughes telegram to Lord Curzon
indicates clearly that he was not
counting on an easy agreement. For
that reason he left the door open to
a conference without France. That
move, in our Judgment, put the pro-
posal over. Thus for the first time
the full weight of American influence
was thrown into the scales Added
to the weight Of British influence, of
Italian influence, of Belgian influence.
and, according to our information. of
little entente inuence. the combina-
ton was more than NJ. Poincare dar-
ed to face. For the first time since
ne entered the Ruhr the united opin-
ion of the world has been brought to
bear upon him. For the first time he
has not been able to avoid the meth
cd of reason because the civilized
world was divided. confused and
afraid
1t is to NJ. Poincare's credit that he
has bowed gracefully to the over.
whelming diplomatic drive set in mo-
ton by Lord Curzon and Secretary
hughes. He had. however, good rea-
son to submit. for not only was he
threatened with isolation in Europe.
put he is actually confronted with
the total collapse of his policy at
nome. The Ruhr is an economic
1allure, and may become a terrible
economic burden. The separatist in
trigue' which was the climax Of the
whoie Ruhr policy, is a miserabl
amateurish fiasco. NJ. Poincare had
played out his hand and failed when
he was faced with the Hughes Cur
zon proposals.
1t is necessary to keep these two
Things clearly in mind, that M. Poin-
care yielded before united diplomatic
action and that his own policy is a
Ialiure. They will remind us that the
ROAD 10 settlement is going to- be long
anu not easy; that very important
put only very small first step along
tHat road has been taken. And while
no one VIII wish to make retreat diff
ncuit for France by too much insist
eHce on unpleasant. truths it would
be folly to forget with an outburst Of