The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-10-24
KEEPING UP
With
THE NE WIS
BY LUDWELL DENNY
Copyright. Scripps-H Howard Newspap


VXTASHINGTON, Oct 24.-What
w the diplomats here are be-
ginning to call among themselves
"the campaign conspiracy of ST.
lence" on foreign policy has been
broken, but not in a way TO alarm
anyone.
Charles Evans Hughes, who used
to be secretary of state, devoted
ten minutes to that subject in an
hours speech Monday night at ST.
Joseph, Mo.
Neither of the presidential can
didateS nor their star orators an
parently consider the nations for
eign problems of sufficient i'm
portance to discuss, or at least not
proper subjects for campaign dis
cussion, it is pointed out.
There is much speculation here
especially among the foreign en-
voys whose business it is to report
on the foreign attitude of parties
and public, over the cause of this.
1t is pointed Nout that the
League of Nations was a campaign
issue eight years ago, and the world
court four years ago. Indeed a
whole series of speeches by Hughes
covering in detail a dozen foreign
policies were outstanding features
Of the last campaign.
Why the change?
n
TINE campaign silence cannot be
Il explained by a lack of foreign
problems to talk about. Here. for
instance, is a random list of such
problems, all of vital and pressing
Importance:
The Kellogg anti-war pact.
Recognition of Russia. Confession
by Coolidge's Spokesman" of the
failure of the presidents plan to
bring about cruiser limitation. The
new alignment of Britain and
France against the American naval
program.
Occupation of Haiti and Nicara-
qua by United States Marines.
Deadlock of the question whether
the United States will adhere 10
the world court.
Militant opposition by a score of
European and Latin American gov
ernmentS against our tariff law pro-
visions permitting the president to
raise rates and directing our eX-
pertS to examine private books Of
| foreign manufacturers.
Panama's refusal to ratify the So
called military alliance treaty with
this government.
Cuba's demand for wiping out tn
Platt amendment, which makes THAI
country virtual American protect
crate, Porto Rico's give us libert
or give us death" cry for autonomy
The Virgin Islanders demand foi
citizenship rights, The Filipinos in
dependence demand.
The new move of European gov
ernments to obtain American debt
reduction or cancellation. France.
failure to ratify the debt fundin2
agreement with us.
Great Britain's failure TO renev'
our arbitration treaty. China's in
tention of throwing over the sun
equal treaties and American extra
territorial rights The navy's new
building program, ranging from II
to rs ships.
DUBLIC indifference cannot ex-
4 plain the campaign silence.
Much of the last session Of Congress
was devoted to these subjects under
barrage of public memorials and
letters unique in the memory of the
Oldest senators.
One explanation given is that Al
Smith is not personally a student Of
foreign affairs. But it is answered
that he has plenty of Democratic
advisors, who are.
Another explanation is that SO
long as Hoover is not under pres
sure, he is not disposed to commit
himself on such knotty questions.
Finally it is suggested that per-
haps the government has arrived at
nationa- foreign policy on which
both parties in the main agree, and
that the only difference of opinion
comes from a small minority with
in each party which is represented
neither by Hoover nor Smith. Such
Democratic experts in foerign af-
fairs as owen D. Young and John
w. Davis are said to be in funda-
mental agreement with Republican
foreign experts such as Hoover and
Hughes.
The similarity of the Latin
American interventionist policy Of
the Wilson, Harding and Coolidge
administrations; the bi-party origin
of the Dawes plan and present nav
al policy; and the recent congress
sional debates and votes on foreign
issues-all are cited to prove that IN
foreign as in domestic questions the
division is not between parties but
between a majority coalition" Of
both parties and small minority
of so-called progressive Republicans
and narnOcrars