San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-25
Thinks Mankind Not Ready
Yet for Discarding
of Force.
HANDS OFF IN EUROPE
Every Nations First Duty
Is to Itself, He Says
y in Speech.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

Copyright, by The san Antonio Light
Washington, ID. C., Sept. 25.-Presi'
dent Coolidge Monday made his first
long speech. Relatively speaking it was
brief-not more than thousand
words, out it says more than the Chief
Executive has been willing 10 say
publicly since he took office. Although
there is no direct reference TO foreign
policy in the speech he delivered to
the annual convention of the Ameri-
can Red Cross here, there are prin-
ciples emu :ciated i'll it which will
without doubt chart the course of
Mr.. Coolidge in world affairs.
For one thing, Mr.. Coolidge is not
an ,put-and-out pacifist. He says that
while force is not the ultimate ruler
of mankind" nevertheless mankind
has not yet, cannot yet, discard the
use of these forces" He regards as
significant that great nations have
agreed upon imitation of armament
and that civilization is coming TO re.y
more and more upon moral force" U.s.
ing. the Red Cross idea rs a SYMBOL
of a policy of practical idealism, the
President argues that its appeals have
been effective because tn y have been
"directly to the conscience of man
kind" without ANY element of conf
pulsion."
The ancient ideals of human broth
erhood, VI service, the application Of
the golden rule, of peace on earth
and good will towards rren, are idle
dreams" says President Coolidge. 4"
unless they can be translated into
practical action"
Doctrine Of Caution.
At this point Mr.. Coolidge does not
outline what course would be one of
"practical action" in the present dis
turbed state of world affairs but he
says guardedly that 1T :, necessary,
on the one hand to avoid the illu
sions of the Missionaries, and, on the
other hand the indifference of the
selfish" This idea of not going to
extremes in either direction, but stay
ing ' in the middle of tie lane was
the slate President Harding's reiter-
ated doctrine of caution. Mr.. Cool
idge' insists also that leach individ-
ual and each nation owe their first
duty TO themselves" and that beyond
that there as the obligation of the
strong TO serve the weak but to ad
minister such service in a way that
will. not destroy or degrade by maxi
ing mendicants, but will restore and
strengthen by making character"
This thought is in line with the idea
that the best thing that could hap
pen to Europe would be a realization
that she must rely on herself. Other
wise she might get into the habit
of relying on others.
Mr.. Soolidge endeavors in his speech
to narrow down some what the obi
CATION of nation. The constant
need of civilization" h. remarks, "is
for a practical idealism." which does
not undertake "to assume responsible
1ty for all humanity" but when a
crisis arises docs not hesitate to 20
out and make whatever sacrifice is
necessary to master the ocasion.-
World War Illustration.
Mr.. Coolidge declares that this kind
of idealism was ILLUSTRATED in the late
war when America "went to tn. rescue
of Europe with treasure and men when
their own liberty and the liberty Of
The world was in peril. but when the
victory was secure. retired from the
field unencumbered BY spoiIs. indie
pendent. unattached. and rnbought.
still continuing TO contribute lavishly
TO the relief OF the stricken and desti
fute old world"
This is in a nutshell an expression
of the American governments noliey
which indicates that Mr.. Coolidge
adopts almost wholly the attitude of
= his predecessor in believing that
America had done CROUCH for Europp.
There are those in European chanrel-
tories who believe the neace of the
world was not secure when America
retired from European affairs and that
the sudden departure Of American
power and Influence contributed much
to the chaos OF reconstruction out Of
which Europe has been struggling TO
emerge but the view usua " taken in
the Washington COVER 1ment since III.
war whenever the subject is raised by
Europeans is that America has not
been responsible-a conflict of opin.
ion with time and history may some
day resolve. The interesting thing Is
that President Coolidge ANNOUNCES yir.
tualiy a hands off policy il Eurone
!. at least until Europe shall helm her.
self and wo.k our her own salvation