The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1921. AMERICA’S RIGHTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1921. AMERICA’S RIGHTS.

A recent cablegram from New York states that it is understood the new (Republican) Administration “will insist upon every right which America gained as the result of her participation in the war, and will refuse to recognise that these rights have been surrendered in the slightest degree by the rejection of the Treaty, or the possible failure of the American peace mission to properly safeguard these rights at the Paris Conference.” In effect, this declaration is nothing less than a claim that America is a law unto herself; that although she refuses to enter the League of Nations she has the right to dictate the policy of the League, while declining to undertake any of the responsibilities attaching to the League’s decisions. Whatever rights the United States gained as a result of her participation in the war are inseparably bound up with the ’ League which her then President did so much to create, and with which the Senate would have no dealings. It may be recalled that the last of the fourteen points of President Wilson’s programme for a world peace, as announced to Congress on January 8, 1918, projtidad fox a aanaxal aMOiiiatio*

nations, to be formed under specific covenants, for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great, and small nations alike. Towards the encl of October in the sai. e year, when the armistice negotiations were proceeding, President Wilson undertook to take up with the Allied Governments the question of an armistice, but pointed out that the only armistice he would fee] justified in submitting would be one that would leave the “Associated Powers in a position to enforce any arrangement that, may be entered into, and to make a renewal of hostilities on the part of Germany impossible.” The dominant principle of the amis tice and the League is the prevention of war, especially by Germany, but also by other nations. America had all the rights which the Associated Powers possessed but absolutely barred herself from participating in the exercise of those rights by holding aloof from those Powers and taking up an attitude of isolation. The present policy of America in relation to the League and the matters con trolled by the Allies and the League, somewhat resembles the recent conflict in the German Reichstag between Herr von Simons and Herr Stinnes, in which the former, while intimating that he would gladly accept advice from, the latter, refused to be treated as “that gentleman’s junior clerk.” The Allies, much as they would prefer America becoming a member of the League, are quite ready to respect her scruples against such co-operation, and are quite willing to! givi\ consideration to any advice that America may submit, yetsthey are not prepared to act as tlie junior clerk and receive orders frpm the United States. If America/desires the same rights as the Allies, she must undertake the same responsibilities. That is the crux of the position; rights and responsibilities go hand in hand. It is perfectly clear that America’s chief source of anxiety is Japan; hence her great concern over the 'Yap mandate and the growth of Japan’s naval power. It is significant that, while there appears to be a growing hostility towards the League of Nations by the Republican Party in the United States, President Harding, in his inaugural address, emphasised that America “seeks no part in directing the destinies of the Old World,” but is ready to give advice. Yet, almost before the eeho of this pronouncement has died away, there comes a claim for every right America gained as an associate with the Allies in the war. She has never been denied a single right to which she is entitled, but has deliberately cut herself off from the only means whereby such rights are operative. All she has to do is to join hands with the Allies in their world work, take her part in their deliberations and responsibilities and then she will be helping to secure the fruits of victory snd devote them to the welfare of mankind. Otherwise she must abide by the consequences of a policy of isolation that can only be regarded as incompatible with her action in participating in the war.