The Daily News. SATURDAY, MAY 14, 1921. AMERICA AND THE ALLIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 May 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, MAY 14, 1921. AMERICA AND THE ALLIES.

The acceptance by President Harding of the invitation of the Allies to join the Supreme Council and the Reparations Commission, although qualified in such a way as to imply that the representatives of the United States would hold a watching brief on behalf of their Government, is a move in the right direction. The attitude that has been taken up by the United States Senate in repudiating President Wilson’s action with regard to the Peace Treaty and the League of Nations was not in the best interests of the world’s peace, or the settlement of outstanding matters concerning Germany. While the Senate’s action may be considered as having been endorsed ' by the country at the last elections, the fact remains that the United States has been been able to keep aloof from the Allies’ decisions, and has on several occasions expressed adverse views thereon without being acquainted with the arguments and facts on which the decisions were based. Obviously the position was too anomalous to continue on such an unsound basis, hence the Allies’ request for direct American representation on the important bodies dealing with peace matters. That President Harding’s acceptance should have caused astonishment to the irreconcilable Senators can be believed, 'but that rather emphasises the wisdom of his changed policy, especially in view of his action in securing the delay of the Senate’s resolution declaring that the nation was no longer at war with Germany and Austria-Hungary. According to the Washington correspondent of the New York Times, the reasons which were expected to actuate the United States’ Administration in declining the invitation, were, firstly,, the probable attacks by irreconcilable Senators should the United States participate fully, and, secondly, the disinclination of the Administration to participate fully until the Allies recognise America’s position with regard to Yap. The first reason can be discussed without comment, but in view of the outburst of antagonism to the control of Yap and its cable station being placed in Japanese hands, it would seem a sufficient inducement to reconsider a policy whereby the voice of America could not be heard in the Council of the Allies, and substitute therefor direct representation, even though nominally it be limited to passive action, a course which is not likely to be pursued, the representatives probably having no power to bind America to any decisions that may be reached while present at the Councils. That phase of diplomacy, however, need cause no anxiety. The main point is that America is to be once more associated with the Allies in their great endeavor to promote permanent peace. The resolution moved in the Senate by the Republican free-lance (Senator La Folette), attacking the President for accepting the Allies’ invitation, and incidentally raising the question of the “barbarous and uncivilised

warfare waged against the people of Ireland, ’ ’ has naturally aroused resentment in American official circles, its object being only too plainly revealed. ' Against this blatant diatribe may be placed the message taken to London by the new American Ambassador, in which President Harding expressed to King George not merely good-will, but “good cheer and good hope.” Amplifying that message, the Ambassador stated that there was never a time when America so keenly felt, as she did now, not merely the advisability, but a moral obligation to assist the Mother Country and act together, shoulder to shoulder, and so save the world and themselves. That is the spirit which should animate the two great Englishspeaking democracies, and its endorsement should be as thorough and spontaneous as the hope that it will be maintained at its best for all time, despite all troubles, difficulties, misrepresentations and machinations. It is recognised that Britain and America conjointly can exercise a decisive influence over international disputes, and that on these two great nations the peace of the world depends. For that' and other patent reasons America’s altered polirfy is gratifying. The closer the co-opera-tion the better it will be, though it will not be prudent to bank too heavily on immediate, results. Rathei’ should the aim be to disarm suspicion and opposition, as well as to slowly, but surely, strengthen the common bond between the two nations, leaving ample scope for trade rivalry, yet unifying the great purposes and ideals of each in their application to the world at large.