New Britain herald., 1925-08-01
SEEING OTHERS AS WE WOULD BE SEEN

lessor Archibald Cary Coolidge at the Williamstown institute. That 1t Is not enough for individuals to un- derstand each other. but entire na- tons must understand one another, was point from Professor Coo lidge that ought to sink deeply into the conscience of the people Of all l nations, Unfortunately there has been tendency during recent years to bring about international misun- derstanding rather than under standing, through the medium of propaganda, with the result that unnecessary suspicion and misgiv- ings are substituted for that good will which springs from seeing the other nation as it ought 10 be seen.
 Professor Coolidge in referring to Americas refusal to join the League of Nations after her spokesman at the Paris conference had a hand in shaping the League. undoubtedly hit upon a sore spot in European understanding of this nation. It is | hard to condemn those Europeans i who saw in Americas refusal a cause for many of Europe's post war difficulties and palms, said the professor. Whether the European nations who have been condemning America for one thing or another are justified in their restrictions or are suffering fom postwar mental astigmatism is beside the question. Facts are facts, and it Is only by resolutely facing them that they are turned into channels benefting man. kind
 The League of Nations issue in the United States appears to be more or less moribund if not dead. But all the same, Americans should be more informed of the workings of the League and not take it en- tirely for granted that 1t is a paper institution rather than an actuality .ttL tR,a tt, nrII lTN must yield q modicum of credit to the 52 nations who are in the League. They do not belong to it because 1t was considered interna- tionally stylish or the right thing 10 do," but because they believed in the principles enunciated by our own President Wilson at the time the League was formed, Suppose some statesman in France had done lions share in forming the League, and We had joined, and . then France refused to join? What would Americans have thought oi the proceeding? They would have } remarked about it like the French do today.
 President Nicholas Murray Butler of Columbia university, when re- turning from Geneva, expressed the 7 opinion that Americans should bt more familiar with the workings o the League. International confer ences come and go and leave nc organization or secretaries to carr! on tho work agreed upon, but thu Leagus of Nations is entirely diff
 ferelt. This clearing house for in
 ternational affairs employs SOI secretaries, translators, eConomi experts, historians, geographers ethnologicaI experts, etc, the yea around and President Butler coult , not help being impressed with tn vast amount Of work performed. The League Of Nauons,' - declared President Butler upon 2 his return from Geneva, "as an
 organization for international
 co-operation and world educa-
 tlon is a success and the gov Y l ter investment than 10 attach f 10 the legation at Berne man
 of ministerial rank 10 observe
 it's work and report it's actiNi- ties 10 Washington. Not only
 the average person but many l of the best educated people are
 totally ignorant concerning the
 league. would dare say that there are not five persons | in the cabinet or Congress 2 really familiar with the organi- , za'ion. Isolation today is im-
 possible. The United States
 government would find 1t
 cheap investment to spend
 some S2n,0o0 a year to attach
 10 the legation al Berne diplo- mat who would live at Geneva
 and observe and report on the
 league work"
 Irrespective of American opinio c about joining or not joining th - League, the suggestion of Professo e Butler regarding an American diPlo n mat at Geneva 10 observe and re 70 port on the League's activities - sound.