The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) WEDNESDAY, NOV. 21st, 1923. ALOOF AMERICA.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) WEDNESDAY, NOV. 21st, 1923. ALOOF AMERICA.

Aeiiocos the recent strictures by Mr Woodrow Wilson mi liis countrymen's political stand in regard to re-enter-ing the Enin’ can diflicuity, and endeavouring to complete the good work begun when Mr Wilson himself Mas the master hand in framing the Tieaty uf Versailles. Mr A. T. Haddon of New York, has been writing of the difficulties and the effoi ts to overcome the political obstacle which preseutwd itsi'll. lie goes on to say that Am*':iea lias found her policy of isolation an impracticable one is not hard :u understand. While the New World Mils a practically complete eeon-omie system its atopic could afford to a-k “What have we to do with Euro|ean affairs?'' But with American maiiiifasturing lor tl>- markets of the umld it soon hec.ime apparent that foreign problems -.vein her problems, too. Economic privileges had to he secured by political pressure. It has been hv a very slom process, however, that this fart has intlueneed the voters of the Enited State's. Again and again, their refusal to reverse the policy of Washington and Jellci scii formulated in the Monroe Doctrine, has acted against their on n interests, am! prevented American pa 11 h!pa t ion ill the world’: l work. In 1885 the value to America of a Panama Canal became a ,|iieslion of practical polities. A hill was placed before the Senate authorising a treaty with Nicaragua, which Mould ,-ecure for the Fnited Stales the desired mute. This caused such a decided popular disapproval that Piesident Cleveland (who had inst. ,oine to office) withdrew the treaty from the House, declaring, on the old grounds, that he “could not agree t<> the Fnited States acquiring

paramount privileges of ownership or tight outside her ov. n territory.’' It Mas not until after l-’ra lice had made cll attempt, and oilier Powers v.eie likely In undertake the canal project, that America was able to enter upon definite at t ion in 1901. ft. the early days of the Panama discussion Denmaik sc-w an opimrtunity of disposing of her West Indian islands, which were of no further use to her. Tlieii po~ition made them of considerable strategic impertame to the nalioii (imlrolling the canal, t.nd they Mere accordingly offered to America for 7-| millions dollars. The advantage to her ul such a contract wa> evident, hut the popular prejudice Mas again too strong, lin'd the Senate refused its con-rill. Nor »ac a change ol attitude possible until Germany, seeking sunny spots for colonial expansion, turned her eyes t«iir*l am! i a used America to hast n. She then pr.id 19 millioii dollars fei the islands. Economic interests also led to political activity in Samoa and Hawaii. In the former America entered the condominium with Great Britain and Germany for ills' peaceful government of the islands, le Hawaii years of Amei i<an nade and iiilliicmv were followed by the suggestion of annexation. A treaty wii- prepared by President Harrison. but amidst loud denunciations the Semite refused to pies it, and Hawaii became a republic. Thus it remained until 1898. when America acquired the Plnllipines from Spain, and with them a. new interest in Hawaii as an intermediate place of call. The new need brought a change of public opinion, and when President M’Kinlcy. suggested annexation it was affirmed in the Senate by two votes to one, and in the House of Representatives by an even larger majority. There ate numerous such instances of conflict between America's interests and her ] cople’s

prejudices. Those events which placed under her oversight Cuba, and the Philippine Islands, Hayti, and San Domingo, gave Ala-ha to her, forced upon Columbia recognition of the new Republic of Panama, and gave the I nited States absolute sovereignty over the canal zone, bristle with the inconsistencies so frequently noticeable in the foreign policy of the Republic, lhev help us to understand, ton, her late entry into the world war cu the one hand, and her calling of the ’Washington {.‘(inference on the other; and President Wilson’s declaration that the (ht.v of neutrality was over, and the late President Harding's advocacy of a world court on the one hand, and the

hesitancy to enter the League of Nations on tlie other. Now Mr I.ibby confidently assures us (‘‘New York 7l<*rald. Oct. 10) (lint we tony expect her fo join hotli I lie World Court and the League. The farmers—that section of the community in which the isolation prejudice is most deeply rented -•‘lacking their European market, have found prices depressed by their surplu- crop fo a point where wheat-growing has heroine a dead loss, with the result that those who have been most afraid of participation in world affairs hive r< aliscd that, there can he no iceovery for themselves apart front the recovery of Europe.” Even if this opinion is too hopeful for all to subscribe to immediately, the facts mentioned ate in the line of happenings traced in ibis article which give evidence that the economic considerations are gradually forcing upon American opinion the desirability of completely discarding an out-worn doctrfne and throwing her full weight into international affairs.