The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-25
UNDERWOOD ON OUR POLICY

UNDERWOOD ON OUR POLICY
 While there is a notable lack of Republican leadership or any sincere Republican effort looking to the for mutation of a real foreign policy, Senator Underwood is earnestly inn pressing upon the people to whom he speaks, and he speaks to all the peo- ple. the great importance of solving the problem of our foreign relations. There is such problem, just as there always has been, only it has become more acute than formerly. The Re- publicans support what they term an isolation policy; but that is not pol icy-it is a negation. Washingtons much misunderstood advice to avoid entangling alliances should not be interpreted to mean deliberate dis regard of our national welfare as af- fected by disturbances elsewhere. The advice is not at variance with the idea that our interests abroad must be look after. An alliance that would serve to promote international good will would not have been condemned by our farsighted first president
 From the beginning our government has recognized the importance of di- plomacy and the necessity of sending able men to represent us at foreign capitals. Sometimes our ministers and ambassadors have owed their ap- pointment primarily to political causes, but that does not alter the principle on which the foreign service is estab- lished. Tn more recent years, how ever, we have countenanced what may be termed diplomatic moratorium, in which we have not only avoided en- tangling alliances, but have actually summed our logical responsibilities. In the words of Senator Underwood: 'It is a significant fact that, during the past three years, for the first time since Franklin represented our govern ment at Versailles, America has been almost without diplomatic representa- ton and influence in European af- fairs" That is not a situation in which we can take any pride.
 Unfortunately, those now in official authority appear unable to distinguish between entangling alliances and those legitimate engagements that cement friendships rather than lay the basis for hostile enmeshments. It is far more easy for us to misunderstood and fall into disagreement with na> tions when we have extended no hands across the sea, than when we are in touch with foreign governments through the good offices of our ablest, wisest and most tactful personalities. We do not assume for ourselves that all-wisdom which would enable us to invade European council chambers and tell them what to do. Such pre- sumptuous program is not at all what MT. Underwood and others of his stature have in mind. Our counsel would be of value, to be sure, be- cause disinterested as regards the dis putes of one nation with another. Our interest does lie, however, in the com position of those disagreements, many of them silly and baseless, which now keep the nations of Europe in con stant state of suspicion and unrest.
 Inasmuch as these nations have shown us in no uncertain manner that they are not suspicious of our mo- tives, we possess at the outset an ad- vantage over all the others. Those nations which distrust one another would not distrust us sitting in coun- cil with them. Our diplomatic record and professions as concerns those major questions of issue in Europe have been such as to alleviate any suspicion of ulterior motive on our part. It is true that we hope to com- pete with all other nations for world trade. That, however, is not an' ul- terior, but an avowed purpose of which all nations are aware and which forms an essential part of their own Aational programs. When Senator wnderwood declares that we are shirk- tng our responsibility in international questions, he has wisdom and right on his side.