AMERICAN WAYS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1926, Page 4

AMERICAN WAYS.

A PLEA FOR BETTER MANNERS. AIR COOLIDGE’S REPROOF. SAX FRANCISCO. August 7. The “ bumptious ” American, to use the term employed by himself, is, in the opinion of President C’oolidge, getting his country into bad odour abroad, and is responsible for the anti-Ameri-can 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 behalf 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, has suffered a good deal of displeasure from American visitors who have made themselves obnoxious bv the display of the Stars and Stripes on their, motor-cars. Nine-tenths of the six million Americans who annually visit Canada by motor appear to have fallen into the habit of festooning their automobiles with Hags. Mu many cases, to he sure, the Union Jack is carried, but it is relegated to a fninor position, and Canadians, who do their utmost to make the visitors feel comfortable, feel keenly the affront offered them. They would much prefer that no flag he carried at all, as is the case in all other British Dominions. The Automobile Association of the United Slates, a mighty organisation, with millions of members, lias broadcast a warning to its members urging them to desist from thus offending the susceptibilities of Canadians. The 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 the rest of the world, which is observing them keenly in their super-prosperity. One was not to be prodiga 1 in their display of wealth, another to lie tolerant, a third to avoid pagan materialism, and now the fourth is not to offend people of other countries by “ bumptiousness.” APOLOGY TO EUROPE. No language could be stronger nor inoYe direct than that of the “Spokesman’s” statement. “ The Executive makes an unofficial apology to the peoples or Europe for the unties of irresponsible tourists abroad, and expresses ihe hope that their unwarrant-,. ed criticisms and 'recriminations he not taken as coming from this Government, nr regarded as an expression of public sentiment generally in the United Sta tas.”

“ A plea for greater tolerance, and a more kindly attitude towards Europe is made. Those who find things abroad not to their liking should remain at home. The President has looked carefully into conditions almond, particularly with respect to the wave of resentment against the United States which is spreading through European nations, and i!'P has come to the conclusion that travelling Americans have only themselves to hlanie. “ The President divides American tourists into two classes: those of a. bumptious nature, given to making boastful statements, not founded oil fact, and those of a greater cull lire who are aware of the common amenities of civilisation. If those in the first group, in their travels abroad have learned that there are other people in the world with equal pride in their own.

Governments and their own modes of living, President Coolidgc feels that they have gained something, and certainly that no great harm has been done. For the second class—Cm more intelligent group—the President suggests that, if things abroad are not to their living, the United States offers a splendid field for spending their moneV. THINGS AMERICANS SHOULD REMEMBER. “ It is most necessary at the present time that Americans keen 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 Americans should turn toward J’.urope in a sympathetic mood. “ This Government has done what it can to help, and has been successful in a good manv ways, but the most helpfill thing tlrat can be done is to make all due allowances and refrain from indulging in unwarranted criticisms and recriminations. Americans should be thankful for their own conditions, but at the same time should manifest a desire to helo others.

‘ As the one holding office for the foreign relations of the United States President Coolidge regrets there are unit people prone to make isn't'vis in Europe which are not always facts, and thereby stir up animosity. When this"occurs, the Executive hopes that the people abroad will realise that the statements come from an irresponsible element, and clo not represent the view of Ibis Government or the true sentiment of the American public. “The same rule, the President hopes, also will apply in the reverse, whenever 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 th.e doings of the Executive, the Cabinet. the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Departments of State. No comment is made, there are no editorials nor advertisements.