The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-25
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS

OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS
President CooIidge's address at the annual
banquet of the Associated Press reveals him
anew as a rightminded and well-meaning
man. 1t is evident, however, that either
consciously or unconsciousy, he is handi-
capped by the record of his party. For ex-
ample. in his discussion of our foreign rea-
tons, the president appears to be carefully
gauging his remarks not according to their
logical emphasis, but in consistency with his
partys rejection of the League Of Nations
The Republican attitude towards the league
is somewhat like that of person who would
advocate the need and desirability of shoes,
and who declares that he must have shoes,
and who has the money to pay for shoes,
but who refuses to wear shoes on the pre-
text that they would restrict the freedom of
his toes. He might consent to wear moe
casins, or even sandals, provided, of course,
he can get everybody else to wear them and
discard shoes. The Republicans might &C.
cept anything that serves the same purpose
and is constructed along the same lines as
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league, and it must have some other name
than league. ~
The presidents belief that the settlement
of reparationss will pave the way towards
further disarmament is shared by most of his
countrymen, except those who believe that
war is an ineradicable human trait. 1t will
also add materially to our foreign trade AL
though Mr.. Coolidge, in common with many
others, is inclined to place our relations with
Europe on the plane of our duty" or on
q sentimental basis, yet even so it is not
possible to disguise the fact that our self
interest is intimately connected with the
policy that we choose to regard as humanita-
rian. For that matter, it would be somewhat
wholesome if Americans would quit practic-
ing this sort Of self-deception The rehabili-
tation of Europe, whatever may be its de-
STABILITY from a humanitarian standpoint,
is absolutely essential from the standpoint
of our own welfare. Mr.. Coolidge recog-
nized this when he remarked in the connec-
tion that our first duty is to ourselves"
| Granted that our first duty is to our
selves Does that duty not dictate, among
other things, that affairs in Europe shall be
composed so that our own well-being shall
be advanced? is not the program of,-limita-
ton of ornaments in line with our duty to
protect ourselves against war? Is not the
policy of bringing about reduction in mill
tary expenditures on the part of European
nations, the best insurance Of the eventual
repayment of the loans we made to the
powers: Are we not now consenting to the
deferment of loans in order that the powers
the expenditure of sums thus retained in
their own treasures? Although we will not
take that position, it is conceivable that a
demand on our part for payment would re.
duce the production of warlike gear and ac-
tnally promote peace abroad
The best insurance of peace is profitable
occupation. America is not warlike, not be-
cause the American people are by nature
different from other people, but because
they are most happily situated, and because
they are content with their opportunities,
which nowhere come into sharp conflict with
the opportunities of our neighbors. We are
peace loving as a secondary consideration, as
result of our environment, and not through
any inherent virtue. If we could not have
our present freedom and possessions without
lighting for them, does not history abun-
dainty attest that we would fight? Our
peaceful inclinations are strengthened by the
fact that they have become in a measure ira
ditional, and by the fact that we have, from
our detached position, been able to compare
the fruits of war and of peace. so that we
now know that the fruits of peace are emf
nently desirable and the fruits of war costly
far beyond their value.
Therefore, if I'VE regard with especial at
tention the Recommendations of the Dawes
committee, and find them of outstanding sig.
nificance, it is because we know that there
is nothing like economic stability, industrial
activity, freedom of thought and opinion.
just laws, impartial courts, guaranteed pos
session of private property. and an orderly
conduct of political and social affairs, to
instll desire that such benefits shall be
permanent and forever undisturbed by wars
alarms We have a duty in Europe, but let
US not deceive ourselves that it is not in
finitely more duty to ourselves than to
anybody else. We must cease speaking in
stock phrases and say what we mean when
we discuss our relations with Europe. The
League of Nations is the best international
clearinghouse yet devised for international
relationships. We are dealing through it
without formally recognizing it, like a rustic
who cashes his checks at local grocery, be-
cause he doesn't trust banks.
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