Evening star., 1923-08-25
Self Interest and Intervention.

Lord Birkenhead, former lord chan
cellor of Great Britain, evidently be.
lieVcs that "civilization is enlightened
selfiShness.' In his address before the
Williams College Institute of Politics
he urges that the United States should
let its own welfare be its guide in the
matter of the European, which he
calls the world, situation.
AltruiSm, says Lord Birkenhead,
has led to grave evils in the European
problem. Only through following the
line of the best interests of this coun-
try can the United States properly dis
charge its duty both to itself and to
the other powers.
The net of the former lord chan
celior's analysis Of the situation is
that the United States should join
with its former associates in the war
TO win the peace" But its motive in
doing so should be the protection of it's
own welfare. and not an idealistic de-
sire 10 better the conditions of the
world at large.
must be on the same economic basis
of the survival of the fittest that con-
trolls the relations between individuals.
This Is the keynote of Lord Birken-
heads talk, which was one of the most
practical and illuminating that has
been delivered on the Williams Col
ICEe forum this season. He feels, how
ever, that intervention by this govern
mcnt is highly desirable, feeling that
the abandonment of our isolation
would he to our interest.
European statesmen who seek to
bring the United States into the Euro
pcan equation as a solvent factor
must sell" to the American people
The idea that their own welfare de-
peEds upon the restoration of stability
abroad. If they can do that they will
undoubtedly bring about a change of
mind on the part Of this country.
which at present is distinctly indis-
posed to move further than in the role
OF adviser
Just how it is to the American self
analysis and demonstration. Broadly
speaking. it is, of course, eminently
t. be desired that the world should be
a. peace: that the great powers of Eu-
ropc should he harmonized; that in
dustry should he revived; that the well
fare of all lands abroad should be re-
stored. American foreign markets, to
put the matter on the lowest plane,
are dependent upon the ability of the
people abroad To buy American goods,
which, in turn. depends upon their in
dustry. These markets depend, too
upon the restoration of the currencies
of the foreign countries TO a normal
basis.
There is. of course. more than the
market question in this matter. There
is the question of potential war, of the
maintenance of governments on their
present basis. the avoidance of con-
filct and nverturn, the prevention of
the spread of the cancer of bolshevism
throughout the European body polite
IN all these the United States is con-
cerned
But the question that is now before
our people is whether there is a prac-
tical way Of intervention or participa-
ton in the settlements which are 50
slow in being reached that will not
involve the United States in the poll
tics of Europe: that will not make this
country party to the schemes and
maneuvers of nations for their own
advantage. If formula of interven.
ton can be framed that will enable
European question for its own well
fare without such involvement it will,
without much doubt, be adopted here
and promptly applied.