Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-09
Many. Germans Are Asking
If United States Is Really
'IdeaIiStiC."
Harden Advises Blow Now at
misunderstanding Rumors.
Defends America.

By Radio TO The Star.
BERLIN, January s.--The New
Year has not started exactly auspi-
eiously for this writer. Almost every
mail Is bringing letters and postcards
starting with the question, "Well,
what do you say now about your be-
loved Americans, about whose idealism
and peaceful love for humanity you
have so often told us?"
All these letters begin i'm about the
same manner. And then comes-Nic-
aragua. The writer's declare that
Americas protestations of neutrality
are merely for show and that in real
ity Washington Is carrying on thinly
yelled imperialistic program.
They say that just as, in 1903, the
revolution In Colombia was manip-
ulated by the United States under
| cover of strict neutrality" for the
founding of the allegedly Independent
republic Of Panama, which was ac-
tually patrOnized by America, so politi-
cal, economic and financial control
over Nicaragua now is to be estab-
lished as one step in the progress
toward domination over Middle
America.
See United States Favoritism.
They assert further that this is the
reason why the Nicaraguan conserva-
tiveS, who granted the United States
Its canal privileges, are being favored
and Juan Il. SaCasa, the liberal leader,
outlawed and why neutrality is vio-
lated; why President Diaz receives
weapons and naval demonstration is
made under pretext of protecting
American citizens.
They point out that simultaneously
three new cruisers and new guns for
others are demanded and Congress-
man Butler declares the spirit of the
Washington disarmament treaty is
dead and the United States must take
the lead In a new armament race
They say, IF all this doesn't smell
like petroleum to you, you must have
a mighty bad cold in the head. On
the Monroe doctrine continent, Ameri-
cans are carrying on wanton impe-
rialism. Cuba, Haiti, Porto Rico,
Santo Domingo, Panama-and now
Nicaragua. and still they preach us
sermons about the self-determination
of every nation! What have you to
say about it?"
The writer replied. first, that Mic
aragua is so far away from Berlin
that we do not know the whole truth
Of the situation. Second, that every
nation is too easily credited Third
land the main point. that effective
steps must he taken to prevent this
new seed Of mistrust from beginning
an evil harvest
Headlines Are Quoted.
Millions still cherish the delusion
that America entered the World War
only for eg6tistical motives, and that
President Wilson was a deliberate
hypocrite when he talked about HUI
mainly and Christian Justice. A
drumfire of headlines has begun, of
which the writer cites only four sam
pies:
America uhmasks." Fourteen
American warships before Nicara-
qua" They preach water and drink
wine. Disarmament exposed as q
lie"
simultaneously the press talks of
coming wars-England against Rus
STA and Italy against France-of a
struggle between Premier Poincare
and Foreign Minister BRAND. etc.
Such continual misunderstanding
eventually may create an atmosphere
that will make a world war possible.
Public opinion is great power and
must not be regarded as a negligible
quantity. Why are not diplomatic
representatives everywhere author
ICED to- deny false reports and give
the real facts? Why does not an in
ternational press law compel every
newspaper to publish such official
statements in a prominent position?
Countries refusing to submit to such
a law would thereby brand themselves
as intending to commit arson.
Whoever takes no pleasure in pill
lorying, as a Shylock Or a Tartuffe.
great nation from whose cooperation
humanity expects so much and in
forcing 1t out of it's important role of
bipartisan Judge must not wait until
an artificially created storm atmos-
phere again vents itself in thunder
and lightning. The case of Nicaragua
Is warning signal.
tCopyright. 1877