TOO BUMPTIOUS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 54, 1 September 1926, Page 9

TOO BUMPTIOUS

THE AMERICAN MANM

ILL FEELING ABROAD

WARNING FROM PRESIDENT,

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SAN FBANCISCO, 7th August

The "bumptious" American, to use (lie term, employed by himself, is, in the opinion, of President Coolidge, getting his country into bad odour abroad, and is responsible for the anti-American outbursts in Europe, in which tourists from the United States have been attacked by people on the boulevards of Paris. In an official statement, on beVialf of the President, a salutary warning is issued by the President as to how Americans should behave abroad; if they are not prepared to do so, they should, it says, stay at home and spend their surplus money. For the past.year or so Canada lias suffered a good'deal of displeasure from American visitors who havo made themselves obnoxious by the display of the Stars and Stripes on their motor-cars. Nine-tenths of tho six million Americans who annually visit Canada by moior a.ppoar to have fallen into the habit of festooning their automobiles with flags. In many cases, to be sure, tho Union .Tack is carried, but it is relegated to a minor position, and Canadians, who do their utmost to make the visitors comfortable, feel keenly the affront offered them. They would much prefer that no flag bo carried at all, as is the , case in all other British Dominions. The Automobile Association of the United States, a mighty organisation, with, millions of members, has broadcasted a warning to its members urging them to desist from thus offending the suscep-1 tibilitios of Canadians.

Tho statement of the "Spokesman" of the White-House is the fourth warning that has been issued within a year to people of the United States as to their attitude towards tho rest of the world, which is observing them keenly in their super-prosperity. One was not to be prodigal in their display _of | wealth, another to be tolerant, a third to avoid pagan materialism, and now the fourth is not to offend people of other countries by "bumptiousness." IRRESPONSIBLE TOURISTS. No language could be stronger or i more direct than that of the "Spokesman's" statement. "Tho Executive makes an unofficial apology to _the peoples of Europe for tho antics of irresponsible tourists abroad, and expresses tho hope that their unwarranted criticisms and recriminations be not taken as coming from this Government, or regarded as an expression of public sentiment generally in the United States." "A plea for greater tolerance and a mor« kindly attitude towards Europe is made. Tliose who find things abroad not to their liking should, remain ■ at home. The President has looked carefully into conditions abroad, particularly with respect to the wave of resentment against the United States which is spreading through European nations, and he has come to the conclusion that travelling Americans have only themselves to blame.

f*The President divides American tonrists into two. classes —those of a bumptious nature, given to making boastful statements, not founded on fact, and those of a greater culture who are aware of the common amenities of civilisation. If those in the first group, iv theiv travels abroad, have learned that there are other people in the world with equal pride in their own Governments and their' own modes . if living, President Coolidge feels that they have gained something, and certainly that no great harm has been done.' For the second class —the more intelligent group —the President suggests that if things abroad are not to their liking the United States offers a splendid field for spending their money.. KUROPE'S DIFFICULT PROBLEMS. "It is most necessary at the present time that' Americans keep always in mind that Europe is now going through a very difficult period. The President calls attention to Europe's tremendous war losses, and to its troublesome business and economic situation. With this in mind, the American should turn toward Europe in a sympathetic mood. '*This Government has done what it can to help, and has been successful in a. good manj; ways, but the most helpful thing that can be done is to make all doe allowances and refrain from indulging unwarranted criticisms and recriminations. Americans should be thankful for -their own conditions, but at the same time should manifest a desire to help others.

"As tie one holding office for the foreign- relations of the United States, 'President Coolidge regrets there are ;ovno people prone to make assertions in Europe which, are not always, facts', mid thereby stir up animosity. When this occurs, the Executive hopes that (he people abroad' will realise that the statements come from an irresponsible element, and do not represent the view of this Government on the true sentiment of the American public. •

"The same mle, the President hopes, also will apply in the reverse, wherever an alien in the United States makes critical statements."

The text of the statement appeared in full in the "United States "Daily," a rather unique new newspaper, published in Washington, which publishes only the doings of the Executive, the Cabinet, the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Department of State. No comment is made; there are no editorials nor advertisements.