San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-17
Foreign Policy Of Coolidge
I, Clearly Stated to
European Nations.
WILL BE NO CHANGE
Proposals From Europe
Must by Clear-cut and
Acceptable to U. S.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.


Washington, ID. C., aug. 1.-THE
United States government under Presi-
dent Coolidge has let its foreign policy
be known through the world through
ambassadors and ministers so that on
the one hand there shall be no infla-
ton of hope based upon proposals i'm
possible of acceptance here and on the
other that there shall be a recognition
by Europe of Americas willingness to
cooperate where the legitimate inter.
ests of this country are involved.
The moment President Coolidge took
the oath a rumor swept Europe that
he favored cancellation of war debts.
Senator Smoot, chairman OF the Ameri-
can debt funding comm. ion who hap
pened to be in Paris at the time. issued
denial but there is no doubt the
Europeans have been casting eager
eyes toward America in the hope that
change of administration might mean
something tangible in the way of af-
firmative aid from the United States.
Secretary Hughes has lived with the
more than two years aud President
Coolidge is not the kind of man to
leap into unknown waters the moment
he has authority ana power TO do so.
He will rely ON the secretary of state
as did Mr.. Harding. And Mr.. Hughes
is steering just now a safe Ind sane
policy, trying not TO impair american
influence by championing either pub
licly or privately, the cause f any OF
the European partisans and seeking al
ways to give an impression of Ameri-
can readiness to help when the founda-
tions Of world settlement are bGlt by
the statesmen of Great Britain, France
and Germany.
No Cancellation Of Debts.
Mr.. Coolidge's observations on Tues
day of this week concerning foreign
policy contained the gist % what
American ambassadors and ministers
now know to be American policy.
America will welcome concrete propos-
ais, but cannot promise TO engage in
any of them unless they conform to
American interests. And by this time
the Europeans know Secretary Hughes
well enough to dismiss the thanght that
cancellation of war debts can for q
m6fneht be considered, \ Fers0ne tHiiig
Congress alone has the power to can
Gel, reduce or. refund existing war
debts and the executive will certainly
not recommend anything to Congress
which American public. opinion does
not, sanction. Thus far there has been
no convincing evidence of the desire on
the part of the American people TO ac-
cept a reduction or cancellation OF
Allied debts.
How can America help? When the
Europeans have gotten away from
their poker game and have seriously
agreed to attempt the fixing Of Ger.
many's capacity to pay, the United
States can lend its neutral and impair
tial personnel to assess &c man assets
and liabilities in exact form.
Settle Preparations First.
The New Haven speech made by
Secretary Hughes now IS been APP
proved by President Coolidge. III
stands as the foreign policy of the new
administration. And that speech made
it very clear that reparations must be
settled first as between the Allies
before anything could done in other
directions. America suggested an I'M
martial commission of business men
and bankers entirely disconnected from
the governments of all countries.
These men were to build the founda-
tions upon which diplomatic settle
ment could be based. Later there
might be treaty negotiations to safe
guard mutually the frontiers OF exist
ing countries against attack. But the
essential of the moment is business
and banking settlement-an honest bal
ance sheet for all of Europe. In max.
ing that sheet, American experts would
gladly help.
In other words the United States has
not changed its policy from that OF the
Harding administration but h. simply
reiterated previous expressions at a
moment when it was thought the new
President might be ready to take a
further step. He is ready to go FUR
ther, but the initiative must come from
Europe and the proposals for American
aid must conform to the legitimate IN.
terests. national and International, oil
an America that does not wish en-
tanglement or intrigue or he sowing
of ill-will that might drag in the use oil
military or naval force.