PANAMERICANISM.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16520, 12 May 1919, Page 8

PANAMERICANISM.

NEW UNITED STATES WORLD GREED. (FROU OtTR OWN" CORRESPONDENT.) SAN FRANCISCO. April 10. Roughlv speaking, Americans are now divided into two great classes, one party strongly supporting President Wilson ahd bis peace policy, whilst the other is slowly being persuaded by the insurgent Senators, who are busy "stumping'' the trans-continental republic with their most violent invective in opposition to the Chief of Washington. Never has there been such a Hood of political eloquence that the unfortunate American populace is being inflicted with bv the unloosing of the Senatorial jaw-wagging from New York to San Francisco. The Lodge-Ivnox criticisms of the draft constitution of the League of Nations, backed by thirty-seven other Senators, and the Lodge-Lowell debate in Boston, have effectually put President Wilson and his supporters on the defensive. The President accepted the situation and acted on it in Paris. >v a motion for amendment "for the preservation of the sovereign rights of individual nations." This is designed to provide for (I) tariff, (2) immigration, (3) right to withdraw on reasonable notice, (4) the Monroe doctrine, and (5) the exercise of sovereign rights in accepting or rejecting dictation from the League's executive respecting territorial integrity in Article X. DEMOCRATS ON THE DJiFJDiVSIVE. When it is considered that the Wilson auministration and tlie Democratic ■farty are on tue deiensive with respect to inefficiency, taxation, taritf, the absence of the Presiuent from his post of duty, tuis new strategical situation is serious. The amendments to tue draft constitution dictated by the benate will lessen the credit due tlie President. Very candid statements of claim are filed to tne effect that President Wilson is not the author of tlie draft constitution. Textß of the Smuts and first draft have been printed in parallel columns, showing the initiative was with the South African. According to Senator Lodge, the entire treaty should be re-drafted, and, in his opinion, that could not be done in Paris. President Lowell, of Harvard University, in proof of his assertion that he had always been "an inconsistent Republican," admitted the draft was "very defective" in construction and "easily misunderstood." It was an experiment in open diplomacy. Pressed to_ declare himself, Senator Lodge said, "I hope from my heart it will be amended." WILSON'S NEW STRATEGY.

When President Wilson returns he should be able to wrest both the initiative and the offensive from the Kepuoiicanß. He is a master in political strategy, an artist in rlietoric and emotional plira&es that appeal to tlie public mind. JU'recu from uie iscene or diplomatic conflict, with his own record and a place in history at stake, it is safe to say he will give the opposition an interesting time. The Senate will ratify the Treaty of Peace and the League constitution, or the American people will have to be told why. It is an offcexpresied conviction with the President that the peogle are with him and his plans for peace. That stuff was used effectively against the Teutonic Emperors, and should do for the oligarchs of the Senate, those men who "have never felt the great pulse of the heart of the world." Europe, he declares, is a "bit sick at heart, because it sees that statesmen have had no vision, and that the only vision has been the vision of the people." "The "great tides of the world do not give, notice that they are going to rise and run; they rise in their majesty and overwhelming might, and those who stand in the way are overwhelmed. Now the heart of the world is awake, and the heart of the world must be satisfied. Do not let yourselves suppose for a moment that the uneasiness in the populations of Europe is due entirely to economic causes or economic motives; something much deeper underlies it all than that," Mr Wilson told his New York audience.

This broad-gauge view of the President is in marked contrast with his critics. He scorns the suggestion that the American people will stop until their task is complete. "Take an individual American and you may often find him selfish and confined to his special interests; but take the American in the mass, and he is willing to die for an idea." They will not leave the Poles, Bohemians, Jugo-Slavs, and Armenians to the hard treatment of their neighbours.

Mr Wilson has passed into the national heroes' class in romilar fancy. This is illustrated by a dialogue of two darkies. One dusky citizen was in uniform. The other clung to his civilian garb and railed against the draft. "I ain't a-goin," he asserted; "and no one is going to make me." "Niggah," replied the other, earnestly, "if Mr Woodrow "Wilson \frants you, you go! That man just took an hour of daylight from God Almighty. Then he took all the railroads away from white folks and give 'em to his son-in-law. What chance has you got?" TWO DISTINCT ELEMENTS. The Democratic party is made up of two distinct elements, the Conservative _ solid South, and Very diverse Radical to Conservative section in the North and West, including the Irish and a large foreign-born percentage of voters. The Republicans are trying to capitalise the war fervour and sentiment, but it is doubted if they can succeed this time. They have an advantage arising out of tne depression in trade and industry. But that may bo removed, and the situation improved, before the election next year. Some good judges already see signs of improvement. It must bo admitted that by his prolonged absence in Europe at a critical time, when all sorts of S.O.S. calls for adjustment were being sent in, the laissez fairo policy for the first half of 1919 was a risky one. But Mr Wilson plays a strong hand, as Paris is very well aware.

Senator Lodge declared in the debate at Boston, that had the President laid that draft constitution before the Senate, which has the right "to advise and consent, 5 ' the ".battlo would have been more than half won by the mere submission." No doubt Mr Wilson decided on that point on an estimate of what the Senate would do. However, there is a general feeling that in this respect the President was lacking in diplomacy. But we shall see later about that.

Prominence was given by American newspapers to the report (1) that Sir Robert Borden will be British Ambassador at Washington, and (2) to tho statement of Sir Robert Borden, that #a British Dominions will not care to a] with questions which arise, in the Leaprue of Nations, except where the British Empire is' concerned. Americans are usually pleased at anything which looks like larger independence for Canada. The alleged protest of President Wilson and others at the Peace Conference over six votes in th« League for the British Empire, led President Lowell to tell of Haiti, San Dominco, Panama, and Nicaragua, not to speak of any other Latin-American republics. No doubt Sir Robert Borden would be welcomed at Washington as a logical step in the direction or having a Canadian Ambassador at tha

American capitol,. as was spoken of two years ago. » CANADA'S NATIONAL STATUS. Recognition of the national status of Canada by the Peace Conference brings a new national entity into the Pan-American group. With panada in the north and the A.B.C. fetates in the south half Br sail and Chile), there is just a, possibility ot a new balance of power in the American continent. Mexico is a dour quantity at present, and some of the others among the twenty-one republics ot America are very doubtful or unknown quantities. > THE NEW PAN- AMERICANISM. Pan-Americanism is the new United States world creed, aocordmg.to one American correspondent in i 7 other dispatch states that President Wilson's proposed amendment to tne League constitution, will not use tne term "Monroe Doctrinb," m order to avoid complications with Italy ana Japan; possibly with others also. > The Monroe Doctrine as origmaliy stated: (1) Entered protest against any proposed extension by Powers or tne Holy Alliance of their system to any portion of . the American hemisphere as ''dangerous to American peace ana safety" : (2) was designed to secure the independence and tentorial of new South American nations; and (o) would view any such extension or limitation of independence as "a manifesto tion of an unfriendly disposition towards the United States." ' With the main purpose to prevent invasion, conquest, and interference by European or Asiatic States, Canada would be in entire accord. _ But with the League of Nations in existence, tho Pan-iAmerican League would resolve itself into an international body, having to deffl. r only with the American hemisphere. Under those conditions the Monroe Doctrine would be obsolete, as in Mr Taft's view it new is. He rejects Olney's suzerainty and fiat interpretation, and on that point also Canada and the A.B.C. republics would agree. THE LARGER IMPERIAL CANADA. There is some prospect that both Newfoundland and Jamaica will unite with Canada. Tie census of 1921 should give Canada a population of ten millions. There is no good reason why Canada should not reach out after a S-arger share of trade with Southi America. At the present time communications by sea and wire axe not good. Such is also the case with the United! States. The best communications are via Europe. But those obstacles can be overcome. The Canadian nation should prepare to take its place in tho Pan-American League, and to make the most of the advantages offered. Speaking to this very Pan-American issue, Elihu Root once said: "There is a national spirit and a national purpose guite apart from.individual purpose or individual ideals." That will also apply to Canada. WhU® the Canadian trade and industrial interests .are pushing trade connexions to the south, it is desirable that the dignity of the State shall be maintained and that the Government of Canada be fairly represented in international relations and activities on this continent of America. The Russian debacle and the threat of the) Bolsheviki against Hungary and Germany make it highly important to make all America secure for reasonable men .and women to live in, with a good degree of social and economic peace. It is some such principle that Pan-Ameri-canism will proclaim.