The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1927. AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1927. AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP.

Uai.u'.DiNi; Professor Blakeslee. who

ar-lived at Auckland reecnt-ly. as an i.a. ,a,.s:ido; from the American people tu the English-speaking commun.itms uu this side of the world, the Auckland Star congratulates him on the sue.r.’s-sfi'd inauguration <« his fcnissio„. Not- only as an American author and University man, hut as American delegate to the Institute ol Pacific Rela.ti ns,, and also as representative of the Carnegie Endowment fur International Peace, Professor Blakeslee, says

the paper in question, call claim to speak avitli authority on the subjects that he discussed, -and there is no doubt that bis expressions of friendship for Britain and British communities, laid hi.s a-s.suram-os of sympathy and goodwill for the Dominions, are heartfelt and sincere. The tone of 'Professor Blakeslce’s remarks has been unexceptionable throughout, and public utterances of this kind are to be welcomed. 'flue greater part ol the Profcsisor’s address at Auckland, it ap-

Imars, was an attempt, not to- justify, hut to explain, America’s attitude towards Europe and to the groat international problems of the ago. The Monroe Doctrine is to bo considered as representing a purely defensive policy; hut the Professor frankly admitted that most- Americans regard it with superstitious reverence and would be ready to fight for it “at the drop of the bat.” As to the bearings of Monroism on international relations. Professor Blakeslee agrees that though the United States refuse to involve themselves in potty European squabbles, there is nothing to prevent the Americans from co-operating with a United Europe to secure the world’s peace. Lot the European States settle their own. Clifford ices first-. In the meantime tho Americans, by their

active participation in economic conferences since the war, and hy the good work that their representatives have done at Geneva in various official capacities, have proved that their refusal to enter the League of Nations is not due simply to a. selfish and exclusive regard for their own interests, or to any desire to repudiate their responsibilities abroad. The Auckland paper, points out, however, that the post-war failure of Europe to re-organ-ise and reconstruct itself rapidly has been due la '•gel to the policy which the Americans have adopted. The refusal of the United States to join the League of Nations has created a general sense of insecurity, and has promoted widespread suspicion of American good faith. Moreover, the unfortunate attitude taken up bv the American Government and people in regard to war debts has not only estranged the rest of the world from them, 'but has seriously retarded the recovery of the impoverished nations still struggling desperately with the effects of the war that made the Americans rich “beyond the dreams of avarice.” The paper was glad to have Professor Blakeslee’s assurance that American public sentiment is moving rapidly in the direction of a revision of the war debts and the scale of payment, and sincerely hopes that b : .s prediction will be fulfilled. We have not the least doubt that, the intellectual section of the American ]K\>ple whom ho so ahlv represents are capable of looking at this question from a standpoint far removed from Mr Mellon's. The trouble is that the American “intellionzia.” is numerically small, and that, as Professor Blnkeslee admits, the Middle "West- and the Pacific oast, which carry more weight in public affairs than the Eastern States have points of view which are entirely their own. Yet. withal, there is a. good and wholesome leaven working, and all things are ]>ossible in crucial times, as we saw when the United States entered the war—much delayed, though still in time to assure victory.