Evening star., 1924-02-10
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

| NGLAND and America long
" have admitted that they have
much in common, despite the
| disputes of the long ago. With
| admittance Of this fact, they as long
| have gone their separate courses. being
| agreeable when they could and ''fuss-
| ing when it was necessary, but
through all agreeing that in the long
run this common interest of language,
| OF ideals and Of blood was not a
thing to be scorned. To other things
| there has been more or less indif-
| ference. But it remained for former
| President Wilson to fuse these natu-
raj ties, to bind the two nations by
| a living human pact.
1t remained for former President
! Wilson to stir in British breasts a
| genuine enthusiasm for America, her
principles and her peoples. 1t re-
| mained for him to interpret to them
the answering echo from across the
| seas. And. it fell to his lot to bring
about a new relationship between the
governments and peoples Of America
and Britain, which is destined to
everlastingly bring fuller understand
ing, common action and united firm
| resolve that through this common in
terest the world shall be better. This
is fully illustrated by the eagerness
of the two governments in recent
months to reach common accord in
vexatious problems.
The landing of Mr.. Wilson at the ia
nous old city Of Dover was probably
even more significant than when he, as
President Of the United States, first
stepped foot on European soil at
Brest.
Welcomes Come From Heart.
When the little channel steamer
Brighton. seemingly conscious of her
| most important mission in busy
lifetime, pranced over the channel
from France beneath the escort of
laundering airplanes and flanked by
French and British destroyers, steam
ed into the harbor at Dover, the
great guns of the castle high above
the water side seemed to thunder to
America and its President '@Welcome
Home" There could be no mistake
that the ardent Hip Hoorays'' of
the British jack-tars aboard the war
ships anchored nearby, came from the
heart and that they were glad to see
Mr.. Wilson. There could be no mis-
taking the notes of the whistles and
the sirens as in their excitable eager
ness to welcome the President and
what he represented-Ameri Above
all there could be no misunderstand-
ing of the pressure, as the hands Of
British statesmen clasped the hands
Of the American.
Bands played God Save the King
and "The Star Spangled Banner" dur
ing these moments of real moment,
platitudinous greetings may have
been uttered but the spirit which
dominated this historic occasion sank
deep into the hearts and the minds
Of every one who witnessed it. There
was reverance more than gaiety.
There was sense of the momentuous
rather than of spontenuity. 1t SEEM
ed a. moment when all the misunder-
standings Of the past were swept
aside once and for all time. Britain
! and America were standing shoulder
| to shoulder as never before.
Ought to Act Together.
President Wilson seemed to sense
| this when he responded to his formal
greeting by saying:
1--WE have gone through many Sc
| rious times together, and therefore
we can regard each other in a new
| light as comrades and associates, be-
cause nothing brings men closer to-
gether like a common understanding
and a common purpose. think that
in spite of all the terrible sufferings
and sacrifices of this war we shall
some day in looking back upon them
realize that they were worth while,
not only because of the security they
gave the world against unjust ag
gression, but also because of the un-
derstanding they established between
two great nations which ought to act
with each other in the permanent
maintenance of justice and of right"
And when tho presidential train
pulled from the railway station in
Dover the impression prevailed that
no had started a journey to the very
heart of England, literally and fig
uratively speaking-London. That he
reached his objective in both respects
history now chronicles.
AS the train sped over the beauti-
full English countryside, with air.
planes racing at its side, greetings
were waved or shouted by the little
clumps Of people scattered along the
entire route. American flags were
waved with British, sometimes alone.
Here and there a soldier on crutches
or with an empty sleeve gave unmis-
taxable evidences of his welcome.
Women and children crowded upon
the typical English hedgerows that
they might wave a greeting to Eng
lands guest.
And though those simple welcomes
were pantomime owing to the swiftly
moving presidential train, they could
not be interpreted as a careless pam
tomime, but records of heartfelt
greeting. And SO they were.
Greeted by Royalty.
Even grim old Charing Cross sta
tion, in London, was ready to extend
it's welcome to America and its Presi-
dent. Smoke-covered rafters were a
sea Of color created by the Union Jack
and the Star Spangled Banner. Long
aisles were carpeted in red. Flowers
and ferns gave honey touch of
green. Festoons were hanging every
where. One would have thought it
great reception room, as, indeed, it
proved to be.
Before the Presidents train arrived
King George and his queen, Mary,
amid the ripple Of cheers. Soon they
a,;v~ fe<J oy,1 I,on Ix,