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

gard 10 the pOSluOn WnlCn the I nlleu
States should take in its policy of
foreign relations. Three years ago
there was a strong feeling against
the United States taking part in any
way in the settlement of world prob
lens; to-day there is an equally
strong current toward the adoption
of some plan which will solve the
question.
The widespread sentiment which
my research brought to the surface
was naturally unoXpreSed, for the
very good reason that there was no
channel for its expression. Many a
clear headed thinking man. who had
quietly watched the complications of
the question for three years, had ar
rived at certain conclusions-opiniOn
that We're calm and worthy of
thought because they had been
reached in quiet thinking. removed
from the political atmosphere.
saw at once the immediate need
to provide a channel through which
this uneEpressed public sentiment
could flow to gather and crystalline
into something concrete and definite,
and to insure for that erystalliZed
sentiment a hearing where it could
he translated into a practical work.
ing plan. 1t is only the man out Of
touch with the great public who
says that the American people have
not thought about this question of
foreign relations. | found the people
had, in far greater numbers than
l had dreamed, thought great deal
about it. Moreover. they were
distinctly disappointed at the way
the matter had been thus far handled.
But where and to whom were they
going to send their thoughts? Who
xad provided a channel which they
could dcrend upon to lead some
mood was clearly evident it was not
in any attempt to be trified with.
Whatever channel was provided
must be straightforward. and it
would have to be obviously so:
simple and direct.
The insistonce in every case was
that if a channel We're provided it
should be absolutely away from any
political considerations, and that it
should he independent of any rela-
ton to the League of Nations. Not
that there was wide or pronounced
opposition to the League. but the
people apparently felt the need of
a channel entirely unbiased and I'M
related to what had gone before. 1t
was as if they said: We can settle
this. but it must be in our way"
a very significantly strong feeling
existed. and was very widely and
vigorously expressed. that the people
desired to have a more direct hand
in such matters as this. They wanted
it in this, and they meant to have it
in the future. They seemed to de-
sire legislation created of their
initiative. I'VE want to be asked
what we think" was a universal
phrase. before important questions
such as this are legislated upon"
With a knowledge of this condition
of a public sentiment, only waiting
to be asked to express itself. the
with a channel was naturally a very
simple conclusion. Hence the
American Peace Award. affording
exactly the avenue asked for, in
dependent of politics, with no rela-
ton in favor of or opposition to the
Covenant of the League of Nations:
an independent forum, in other
words. The money award was in
troduced, of course. to dramatic
the idea: to focus attention upon it.
Naturally. there can be no fixed
monetary value to plan which will
solve such a problem. The sum of
100000 was merely settled upon,
as might any other sum, as an as
surance of the earnestness of the
committee to find practicable,
statesmanlille plan. capable of adop-
ton and of obtaining results when
adopted
That this is within the possibilities
the committee has reason to believe
The award was made only after the
most careful thought by orderly
minds. extending over period of
months. 1t is not an overnight idea:
few awards have had their progress
sive stages more carefully thought
out and thought through. One thing
is certain: the American people are
far more alive to this question of an
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