Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-25

"hiioHlSlo"u, MASS, Aug. "a
(By A. P.)-Asserting that the world
was not yet ready for the idealism
of Woodrow Wilson, the Earl of
Birkenhead, former lord chancellor
Of England. tonight declared that
self-interest alone should determine
whether the United States should in
tervene in the affairs of a stricken
Europe.
Lord Birkenhead, who landed in
New York this morning and has
tened to Williamstown to address the
closing session of the Institute of
Politics on THE World After the
War;" quoted Jeremy Bentham. the
English philosopher and jurist. to
the effect that self-interest was the
necessary motive-spring to human
endeavor.
In deciding what constituted her
best interest, he continued, America
must remember that great nations
require a great world in which to
develop their greatness and that
commercial genius flourishes only
when the whole world fiourishes.
He warned Of the effect of restricted
markets on manufacturing and ag-
rlculture and declared that il in a
poverty stricken world America pro-
duced more than she could use her
self, sooner or later she would ex-
perience the same conditions now
affecting Great Britain.
In emphasizing his assertion that
self-interest was the dominating mo-
tive in life, Lord Birkenhead de-
clared that the world would prob
ably not survive if idealism were
given completely free rein; no ma
ton in democratic conditions will
ever become the knight-errant of the
world: Woodrow Wilson's judgment
of his countrymen was wrong, and
agent Of all postwar developme nts
from which his atruistic mind
would have recoiled.
Lord Birkenhead opened his ad-
dress by declaring that a dozen I'M
scrupulous but powerful men, de-
liberating privately in Berlin. de-
cided upon the world war. This de-
cision. he added, was astonishing
because of the very ignorance dis
played by the twelve.
For Germany given peace, had
everything in her own hands," he
asserted, land her principal trade
competitor in Europe, was likely tc
be paralyZed by internal dissentions
relating to Ireland, which might
easily have produced civil war. All
Germany had to do was watt
From war Lord Birkenhead turned
to peace. asserting its problems were
infinitely greater.
ut is no use abusing the treaty OF
Versailles" he declared. THAT treaty
was the creature of the victorious
mood of the victorious allies.
president Wilson, indeed, came
with n noble message of hope: but
unhappily in the sequel hope proved
to be his principal equipment. 1t is
had he been given health and
strength to pursue the campaign
which he contemplated. his idealisn1
and personality could have affected
the forces Of the world.
II am bold enough, even at the mo-
ment when I pay the highest tribute
to his unselfish motives. to doubt IT
For the real truth is that while the
whole world requires the encourage
ment and the light of idealism, the
whole world would probably not sur.
vive If idealism were given COM
pletely free rein.
The same simple. illuminat-
ing, IL cynical, truth applies
to that hideous competition in
the world by which every in
dividual who does not inherit a for
tune is striving. The great Benthan
long since pointed out that the motive
spring. and the necessity motive
NP h,,y Golf.
interest; and he equally pointed out
that the consequences would certainly
be obscure. and in his judgment would
be unfortunate. if every individual be-
gan to regulate his or her life, not
upon his or her own interests. but
upon some supposed interest of 9TH
ers.
And the same great truth applies
equally to nations. No nation in DEM
ocratic conditions will ever become the
knight errant of the world. The gov
errors of each nation are the trustees
of the whole people; and, unhappily,
they are removable trustees. They
must always keep peace with the ben
eficiaries of the trust because the bene-
ficiaries in this particular matter can
at any moment discharge them from
their offices.
And, therefore,, 1t seems TO ne tnat
while the name of President Wilson
must always be revered by those
who render homage to purposes al
most superhuman. pursued with a Zeal
almost as superhuman. yet 1T must
none the less be recognized that his
Judgment of his own countrymen was
wrong, and that by the error of that
judgment he became, paradoxically
enough. the agent of all those postwar
developments from which his altruis-
tic mind would most especially have
recoiled.
81. for myself, have no decisions as
to the only function which the Ameri-
can government is called upon to dis
charge. Their primary, and indeed
their only duty, is to the American
people.
IF by intervention in the affairs Of
a stricken Europe they can advance the
fortunes of the American people then
it seems to me, as an humble observer,
that it would be their duty to make
such an Intervention. But, IL in cool
perspective. they reach the conclusion
that no compromising gain to the
American people will result from as
Stunning Europe and world responsible
tics. they would be failing in their duty
if they embraced any unnecessary re-
sponsibility."