Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-16
BY SIR PHILIP GIBBS


~ EvERAL events during the past
week have directed the atten-
ton of European observers ana
ion to the world policy Of the
United States. Although widely di-
vided in Importance and subject. GER
tain facts are linked together in
European minds as bringing America
more closely. for good or evil, into
the sphere of international problems
and policies which cannot be isolated
in this modern world.
I will give this strange, disconnected
list of events. First come those wire
less telephone conversations between
New York and London. Second is
William Randolph Hearst's manifesto
to the editors OF his newspapers pro-
claiming that the time Is ripe for
some pact of cooperation between all
English-speaking nations in order TO
preserve peace among themselves and
as far as possible to secure the peace
of the world. Third is Americas po-
litical control Of Nicaragua and its
consequences in Mexico. Fourth is
the American policy or lack OF policy
in China. Fifth is President Cool
idge's action regarding the new
cruiser program. Sixth, now, tomor-
row and henceforth. is the COM
mercial and financial relations of
the United States with Europe and
their own internal prosperity at the
beginning this new year of history.
Now, all these things which do not
seem to have much relation with each
other have set many tongues to wag-
ging. many pens to scribbling, many
| typewriters to clicking in Europe.
Broadly speaking, Europe is aware
| that these United States is not nearly
| so aloof from other peoples business
and political pies as we or they
! imagine.
What Eject Phone Talks?
In England these telephone CONVEX
sations between New York and Lon
don or London and Los Angeles have
thrilled popular imagination. The
| old herring pond seems to have
shrunk to mere rivulet. Three
thousand miles have been bridged by
whisper over wire and through
the air between English lips and
| American ears and the other way
about Undoubtedly we have been
brought closer to the United States
| by this new invention. Imaginative
writer's have let themselves go on the
subject of closer sympathy and I'M
Outstanding that must follow this
rapid communication.
do not think that this is the in
evitable result. France and Ger
many have been close neighbors fol
long time. Letters have been de
livered quickly between Paris and
Berlin. That has not made them love
one another. All this speeding up OF
communication will not make fol
closer sympathy unless it is attended
by spiritual friendliness.
1t is for that reason that Mr.
Hearst's note to his editors is really
more important than a transatlantic
wireless conversation, if its idea Is
developed with sincerity. The Hearst
press has not been famous for its
friendliness to Great Britain. Mr.
Hearst's editors. and especially, per
haps, Mr.. Brisbane, have enjoyed
good sport in twisting the lions tail
and tweaking John Bulls nose. Po-
! litical cartoons in Hearst's news
| papers undid much of the attempt by
| intellectual leaders on both sides Of
| the Atlantic to create friendly
! feelings.
Would Not Ignore Proposal.
In many cases, no doubt. Great Brit.
ain was an easy target for this lint
! of sport, but between two great ma
tions speaking the same language
and largely responsible for civihza
ton this POLITICAL bullyragging is re
grettable. Because Mr.. Hearst's news
papers reach millions of American
readers who are seldom Influenced
by other written or spoken words II
is profoundly important to my MIND
that he should make this gesture OF
friendship and cooperation.
England will be foolish to ignore oil
despise. So far the comment has
| been mixed. Mr.. Hearst's sincerity
has been questioned. In England
cynics say, whats his little game?
! His disbelief in the League of Nations
as an effective instrument to world
peace is taken as suggesting that
Great Britain and her sister nations
| would do we'll to cut the League and
form a group of English speaking ma
lions with the United States.
That is impossible. Great Britain
is a part of the European system
Her people guarantee peace between
France and Germany by the LocarnC
treaty. She is up to her neck in the
League and it's responsibilities. But
see no reason why this should pre-
vent English-speaking nations from