The Colorado statesman., 1923-09-15
AIME RIGA FIRST"
STILL OUR POLICY
ATTITUDE OF THE GOVERNMENT
TOWARD EUROPEAN MIDDLE
REMAINS UNCHANGED
NOT SELFISH, BUT WAITING
Recent Reports That the State De.
partment Had Found Plan and
Would Offer Mediation Have Been
Based on ignorance.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK

WaSnlnStOn.-lI washington SHOulu
try to count the number of attempts
which have been made to set forth
the real position of the United States
government toward European matters
it would be compelled to give up
every other occupation for day.
There have been explanations and eX-
plantations. none of which has ex-
planned.
Recently there have been stories,
some of which seemed to be authentic,
that this government had found
plan which it intended to propose to
act as mediator in reparation mat
ters, and with the story came another
that the European governments were
prepared to accept the offer and aiso'
seemingly the future was bright for
understandings and for physical and
financial peace in Europe.
Another story was to the effect that
the United States was willing to act
as mediator to adjust the differences
between Great Britain and France,
and that after these were adjusted 1t
was thought it would be possible for
these two countries, dominant ones as
they are to agree with the other allies
on a course which would make Ger
many pay up and put an end to all
thought of war and of other things
menacing
great many Americans were
brought to believe that the end of
trouble was in sight because America
intended an offer of mediation" Some
one who had access to the columns OF
great many newspapers misinter-
preted what was said at the State
department, and also seemingly had
no knowledge of things that had been
said and done by the department IN
the recent past. The result was that
old things were covered with a new
dress which did not fit 1t was old
news taken as new Eews with gilt
tering promise that all soon would be
well across the water.
No Change of Our Attitude.
Time after time in the stories of the
day European affairs soon were to be
settled by American action. but time
after time the pens which wrote the
stories were confuted. Seemingly TO-
day the United States. so far as the
administration is concerned, stands
just where it did two years ago save
for the fact that within the two years
President Harding enunciated his
plan for American membership in the
world court
AS some one has put it, the domi-
nant note in our foreign relations to-
day. so far as the State department Is
concerned, is America First" This
to great many people who think that
this country should help the world out
of its difficulties, probably may seem
like the quintessence of selfishness,
but it is probable that the State de-
partment does not mean that anything
1t does or does not do is to be looked
upon as being charged with spirit of
yourselves only"
The fact seems to be that the ad-
ministration still is awaiting the day
when the governments of Europe can
agree among themselves on some
course of procedure before it shall
attempt to offer to help them along
the course There are other men here,
however, who say that this country
shourtl point out the course to be fol-
lowed and trust to fortune that the
countries of Europe would be willing
to follow 1t.
Old News Sent Out as New.
So long ago as last December Mr..
Hughes intimated that an interna-
tiopal commission might be appointed
to take cognizance of the whole situa-
tion in Europe and find n remedy for
the existing evils. Some of the
European nations seemingly thought
that this was good proposition while
others paid only the heed of tempo
rary courtesy to the plan. A revival
of the story of this intimated plan of
Secretary Hughes probably is re-
sponsible for recent stories to the
effect that the United States intended
| TO offer mediation. Old news was
PLAYED as new news by persons who
did not know what the old news was
So far as can be determined, there
fore, the American position on Euro
mean affairs is just about what 1t has
| been. OF course 1t may change at any
time, but changes will depend almost
entirely probably upon developments
| In Europe and not upon any likely de-
Walton from present American policy
under conditions as they still exist.
The country, seemingly, still is d.
vided on the question as to whether
| or not the United States Voluntarily
should offer some proposal to Europe
| for a settlement of affairs. Washing
ton apparently believes that the coun-
| try is split just about half and half In
opinion on this matter. The opponents
| of the plan for action by this country
| say that the matter was settled by the
election of 1920 and that America
| should have nothing to do with
Euronaan trouhles Others saw that