Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-04
BY OGDEN REID,
Editor of the New York Herald-Tribune.

ter one knows ones neighbor the less
likely one is to harbor serious differ.
ences. In any case, the possibility OF
settling differences by means OF the
recognized departments OF arbltra-
ment rather than through recourse to
force Is increased immeasurably. The
"shrinkage of the world" means that
we are all more interdependent. the
widening of our interests, the growth
of our responsibilities. The American
press Is alive to the possibilities OF
the situation. The leading Journals of
this country are reporting foreign
events better and better, The quality
of the foreign correspondence IS stead
lily improving. Our representatives IN
the foreign field are better trained,
better equipped and are doing better
work. AS time goes on and they gain
in experience there Is no reason why
the corps of American correspondents
should not perform a function as valu-
able as that OF the corps of ambassa-
doris. In some respects 1t may be
more influential, because they have a
vehicle which brings them in direct
and immediate contact with the public.
Public opinion demands a fair pres
entation Of the facts. The newspaper
insulting the intelligence of it's read
ers and doing a disservice to its coun-
try.
*+**
Relatively unimportant things inf1u'
ence public opinion. Some TRIVIAL IN
cident may sway a whole people AND
undo the work of ambassadors and
statesmen. In our own experience we
have many striking illustrations OF
the Kaleidoscope changes in pubic
| opinion. Professional sports furnish
countless incidents showing how easy
| 1t Is for the idol of the hour to be
shattered Frequently a single false
step results In a serious fall
In recent years we have had series
of conferences all aimed at improving
| international relations. Various sub
jects have been brought up for gen.
eral discussion. and a serious attempt
has been made to find an agreement
of benefit to all. From an American
point of view perhaps the most Inn
portant of these international gather
| ings was the Washington conference
| which reached an agreement on the
question Of the limitation of naval
ornaments Another international
conference in which American repre-
sentatives played an important part
was the one in which Gen. Dawes and
Mr.. Owen Young helped to work out
plan for the rehabilitation OF Ger
many. Looking back over these i'm
portant meetings. credit must be glVer
| the American press for its attitude TO
ward these events and the manner III
which the news was handled.
An attempt was made to organize
the foreign correspondents who were
assigned to the reporting of the
League of Nations conference al
Geneva. The announced object was
| the cooperation of the press in the
organization of the world" but, &C
cording to recent reports, little prog
| ress has been made, chiefly because
| one of the promoters Of the plan eX
pressed the view that the press might
render the greatest assistance to the
League of Nations" This inciden,
was highly significant. 1t was strik
| ing illustration Of the fact that the
press desires to maintain complete IN
| dependence. 1t is not prepared &c
follow any formula, to align itself with
any particular group, to be bound by
a hard and fast set of rules. Tn
press may do much toward the
| strengthening of international rela
lions, but perhaps it can help most
by acting Independently, by following
| the course best suited for its own par
| ticular case.
| Recently the Pan-Amer1can Unlor
| held the first American Congress OF
Journalists in Washington. All who
were privileged to attend its sessions
| profited by the discussions. the con
! facts which they made. Conferences
Of that kind are bound to be fruitful
The American press cannot prevent
wars; 1t can be, and it already is. the
greatest single force creating those
friendships between peoples which are
the only real basis of peace.
Copyright. 1920