, 1923-08-28
Sound Advice to America

Elliot Wadsworth, assistant secretary OF the
treasury, conducted the negotiations IN Europe
relative to the settlement of money due the unit
ed States for maintenance of the army on tne
Rhine. While engaged in that work he came in
intimate contact with the allied nations and mad
an excellent opportunity for discovering thelr
viewpoint as well as ascertain1ng the actual
conditions in Europe. A much better ana Wluer
opportunity than unofficial visitors who are
bringing home so many half baked theories ana
such foolish advice as to what America should
do respecting our duty to other nations and other
peoples.
Mr.. wadsworth on this general subject has
spoken freely and fully and he outlines Amer
icn's position clearly when he says:
"The settlement of reparations and guaran-
tees is fundamental to the future of certain
nations of Europe. Drastic steps are Delhg taken
to force the issue. Some farreachlng results
must be obtained. Suppose that the United states
through its official representatives had COM
mitted itself for or against the present action In
the Ruhr: that stand could not fail to become
n political issue in the next campaign. 1t would
be an issue upon which the voters could not be
fully informed, and yet the result of the voting
would be of paramount Importance TO the ma
tions of Europe that would be affected. what
nation with its interests at sake could resist
the temptation of taking part in such a cam
paign?
"That is one of the old arguments against the
official presence of the United States IN the
political arena of Europe, and only to make 1t
more definite do 1 cite the Ruhr as a typical ex-
ample of the kind of question which would con-
stantly be injected into our elections.
"There are domestic problems facing us at
home which are not too small to keep the best
men that can be found for high government of
flee. amply occupied. Our national finances,
taxes, the prosperity of the farmer, industrial
relations. railroads and shipping are n few OF
the many questions, which press for constructive
settlement. We alone can solve them. We can ask
no help from outside nor do we intend too. The
voters must decide every so often into whose
hands they will intrust the affairs of this ma
ton. Whoever may be chosen should represent
the choice of the people based upon home ques-
lions and not upon any theoretical action which
may or may not be taken in Europe
TN many ways this is as critical a time for
the United States as it Is for any other nation.
We may, as individuals, be deeply interested and
engrossed in the spectacular happenings of Eu-
rope. / do not belittle our selfish interest in the
result of those happenings, but L feel deeply that
our action as American citizens should be con-
trolled by what is best for the United States in
the mana cement of its own affairs.
"The United States today is a great and sol
vent nation. No such development has ever oc
Cured before in the world. No such democratic
government has ever existed. We are a great
experiment and a very successful one. We see
great nations which for generations had been
looked upou as stable beyond question strug-
Cling today in a crisis which may wreck their
government, finance and industry and turning
to us for help.
upon our own welfare will depend the ex.
tent TO which we may be of help. Upon the men
whom We elect to office much of our welfare de-
ponds. America need not fear the accusation of
the world that We are selfish and self seeking
simply because we devote the best thought and
energy which is in us to our own problems and
policies. The world needs the United States,
needs us at our very best, strong in government
sound in finance and industry. The broad sym
patty of the American people together with an
energetic, ever present desire among American
business men to build up and not tear down must
give assurance that others will not suffer but
and prosperity.
"By keeping ourselves free and u~ncommitted
by keeping strong; by handling our own bust
ness efficiently, we are in the long run conserv.
ing and building up a force which has and will
prove of untold benefit in the re-establishment
of Europe"