ALOOF AMERICA.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1923, Page 4

ALOOF AMERICA.

THK MILESTONE ABOUT HER NECK. 1823-192.3. (By A. L. Haddon.) Air Frederick Libby states that the growth of American sentiment in favour of. and hopeful for. co-operation with Europe, is particularly noticeable among farmers—the most conservative element in the American population. "We may expect the United States to join the “World Court this winter.” lie declared, ‘'and, with reservations, the League of Nations, after the Presidential cLion next year." The cabled opinion is probably based as much upon the anient hope of a professional optimist as upon actual observation and definite calculation. The i . sidue of cold fact, however, is one of frequent recent illustrations of a change in national character which is of world-wide, importance and oi considerable interest to students of the psychological history of the 1 nited States.

The change is not merely one of policy, for American aloofness is'the result, of something more deeply rooted. That participation in world affairs is unwise has Leon it conviction so widespread a- to Is* nothing less than a trail of national character. U luis been a smouldering force which statesmen have found always ready to blaze forth and de-troy their host-laid i lans for the extension of Ainercia's influence abroad. It is the spirit of Washington and Jcllerson and Alonroe incarnate in the modern millions, and is the multitude's blind tribute to a wisdom in tile i.clirv ti the pioneers which they are relic lent to let, go. Ihey fail to ,enlist- that the Monroe doctrine i- now nothing but a name. It has served a useful ..in s,. but now fails to lunc-

iieu becau-e e; changed conditions. Curiously enough, the policy against v. hicli Lloyd fn’oi'ge and (.'rev <onsianilv contended, is u! Biitisli cirih. It. took shape m the bniii of tic of the shrewdest directors of foreign policy England ever hand. And lor the blank ilieque Canning handed to Monroe there was every justification. 'I he (list quarter of the 19th. oentuiy witnessed the spread of the spirit which animated the French devolution. In .Spain, as elsewhere, a rebel-reactionary dud was in piugi'cs-. extending to her South American colonies. France, offered to help establish the Spanish monarchy, liul Canning knew that .Spain was bankrupt and !''rnno!' ambitious. The only hope of payment for the offered services was by a grant to Prance ol Spanish land in South Auicia'i. Such an acquisition ('aiming was nm-l anxious In prevent, and suggested an AiigUA inerican alliance, in declare that while i.cither wished In aiquil'e land in South America, they would redd intervention or occupation there by any European

nation. Monroe v.as perplexed. To form an alliance with an old world Power was a reversal of the policy laid down by Washington. and ec'ii'iacd by Jcfiersoii, lint the danger fioni France v.as elo.'irly soeii. Ex-Pi'.'-idciit Aludcli.son and .lelfcr.sou and Secretary .Joint Qtunecy Adams were . on-id! cl, and tiler ' was formulated li e dnclmi: l which bears the name. Ip va - painted out that as ('.inning bed shown Id-, band bis help coii i .l lie counted on even without an alliance. A'cmdingly the United States made a declaration of her own :o the efi's'L lluit North and South Amei'iea farmed a di-tiiu L economi'- and political sys tem, w hicli could exist independently n! tic O! I World. She would stand aloof from Enrol ."it! affair.-.. and woidd favour no intervention in the new world by an outside Power. Tins do’ I. rum tot exactly P-l years ape v, a v a iicee.-sury principle oi Aiiteri can seif-ure emit ion. And it was more. As Cunning said in a later review of hi- pel;:;,, he had ‘'called the new world into existence to redress the b'dance of the obi." A policy till!.-, acceptable on imili ,idc- of i'iio Atlantic ."as not

likely soon to be altered. It took firm hold on the American mind, and while the Itepublie .bad nothing to get front Europe, she was content with isolation Circumstances are gradually (banging the national outlook. To-day the United States lias vast trading interests in all parts of the globe, and needs old world markets for her prosperity. .She is no longer aloof, whether she retains the Alonroe Doctrine or not. Iter statesmen Imre long ago realised that it is nothing but u phrase, but the populace have again and again refused to have broken this cbarit which binds loath rrs of x-ision and prevents them

from exercising their full iuilucuce in the world’s affairs. President Wilson in 191/ spoke boldly for the thinkers of his land. "This is (To last war of the kind, of any kind, which involves the world, that the United States (■•.• in keep out of. I say this because the day ol our neutrality is over." But nnon lus successor suggested American advocacy of a World Court he stirred up a host of deeper ;cd | ihnii..-. which ■made him think long and carefully. This lias happened at overv new turn in the pathway of American ] rogres-. But it is another story that tells to what extent. the hindrance has boon effectual and how it is gradually being overcome by the growth of the conviction that cooperation is essential---that the welfare of all nations is wrapped up in the belief that in interests and destiny, the world is cue.