The Daily News. THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1921. AMERICA’S DANGER.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 June 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1921. AMERICA’S DANGER.

Few intelligent people can have read the recent cabled message from New York containing the hysterical ravings of ex-Senator Lewis without feeling the impropriety of sufficient importance being attached to such absurd statements as to give them worldwide publicity. The incident shows that the craving for sensationalism must still be as great as ever in that country, and that no matter how pernicious may be the form it takes, there are those who seize upon any chance that offers to pander to the depravity. If Mr. Lewis is a sample of the average American politician little wonder can be felt at the strange and otherwise unaccountable action of the United 'States as regards international affairs, but we prefer to believe that as he no longer casts his shadow of gloom over the Senate, his views are entirely personal, and of no account. It must be humiliating to the great v body of American public men to be told that “the United States has no friend in Europe, and must be vigilant and watchful against tricks, under cover of friendship, perpetrated by nations which, though accepting our (American) sacrifice in blood and money, have neither sense of appreciation nor gratitude. 5 ’ Such a sweeping charge implies the utter failure of American policy and the complete ineptitude of her statesmen to maintain the status and dignity of that country as one of the Great Powers, while it also indicates that the Administration has been so perverse that America has deprived herself of all friends in Europe and become impotent and isolated. Mr. Lewis is not content with being merely denunciatory, but seizes the prophetic mantle in order to present a lurid picture of the United States being the prey of Japan, backed up by the Allies, who, he says, will not dare to refuse because of commercial entanglements. Presumably this modern Balaam is suffering from an obsession over the AngloJapanese Treaty renewal, and is trying to arouse the American eagle to screeching point by plucking its tail feathers, and thus evoking the pity of the people for its woe-begone appearance. This view is confirmed by his forecast of what the younger generation will see—“a Pacific struggle to decide whether America is to be t.he first nation of the world, or go down under an Asiatic stroke, backed by the Allies.” Could anything be more absurd? Either America must be first or of no account at all. “Aut Caesar, aut nihil.” The Japanese bogey has evidently put all this ex-Senator’s wits to flight, and left him a mass of vibrant nerves that make him a danger to his country. The Japanese authorities may well smile at finding there is at least one man in America (although merely an ex-Senator) whose prophetic vision enables him to see Japan as the dominant Power, able to compel the Allies to do her bidding and to make. America “go down under.” At least America has been warned, and if she cannot or will not read the writing on the wall she must abide by the consequences, and so must the Allies. Fortunately America’s future does not depend on the guidance of ex-Senator Lewis, and that statements which rest on the baseless fabric of a dream will cause no anxiety. On the contrary, they may result in drawing closer the interests and friendship of the

two great English-speaking democracies. Nothing is more certain than that, should the time ever arrive when an Asiatic blow on America is contemplated, Britain will be found standing shoulder to shoulder with her American cousins to counter the stroke. America’s danger would seem to be greater from within than from outside. Whatever the future may hold as regards an Asiatic combination no one can say, but of this we can be assured, namely, that the world’s peace and security must for many years to come depend upon the action of America and Britain. Whether, as some think, the next great struggle will be in the Pacific time will prove. Meanwhile, the (cultivation of friendly relations between the nations may accomplish much, and if America’s safety depends on Japan holding the Allies in the hollow of her hands, America need not worry over her fate.