VARYING RELATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 19710, 10 November 1927, Page 1

VARYING RELATIONS

AMERICA AND EUROPE POST-WAR PROBLEMS The relations of the United_ Slates to European affairs, and particularly to the League of Nations, formed tho subject of a lecture by Professor G. H. Blakesleo in Sydney. Strange as it might seem to peoples of other nations, said Professor Blakeslee, one quite important reason why tho United States held aloof from European affairs was that she suffered from an inferiority complex. _ By that he meant that there was a widespread feeling that American statesmen, capable enough in their own sphere, were no match in diplomatic matters lor Bio Machiavellian schemers of Europe. Jho Americans were plain, earnest, honest, sincere men, who could acquit- themselves well iu a friendly game of checkers, but ought not to be asked to play for high stakes in a game like ‘ draw poker.” (Laughter.) The ■ United States viewed the outbreak of the World War with horror. She adopted the attitude that the European volcano of militarism had once more burst into eruption but that it could bo viewed with safety if not with calm, from a distance. Not otic in 1,000 —not one in 10,000—of Americans dreamed that their country would bo clrawui in. From the very beginning the sentiments of the great majority were with Britain and France. Then, when it began to be seen that the war, though European in origin, was in reality a challenge’to the principles of American democracy, hundreds —even thousands—of young Americans had gone over the border to Canada and enlisted. The slogan of these later days, “ To make tho w r orld sale lor democracy,” was no empty cry, but a very genuine expression of national feeling. When she threw’ in her lot with the Allies the United States really did feel that she was a partner with the rest ip tho settlement of ivorld affairs. Even after the ivar that feeling lasted. At length, however, idealism everywhere had begun to wane. To the United States the small nations seemed little interested in “ making the world sale for democracy.”

The withdrawal of the United States from participation in European a flairs was thought by many even now to have been due solely to difference between two political groups. But these dif'erencos were only the expression of the fundamental conflict between two gicat national policies—one the doctrine of isolation which had been followed consistently for IffO years before the war; the other the doctrine of participation in European matters which bad held sway for only two or three years. Now that the dust and smoko of the con diet had cleared away , it seemed it was still the desire of the United States to hold aloof from Europe’s political affairs; but that she wished to_ participate as fully ns possible with European nations in settling matters of economic and financial import. The line, oi course, was difficult to _ draw, but a serious attempt was being made to draw it. few people knew the extent to which the United States was talcing part in the League’s economic discussions. Earlier in the year a committee had investigated the question, and had found that there were nearly as many official representatives of the United States at Geneva as there were of any of the actual League members. The United States was represented on seven of the lending committees by Government. nominees and on tour others by other means. Her relations to the League had never been more cordial than now. Visitors to the United States often formed the impression that opinion there was preponderantly “ proLcaguc”; hut lie did not think that was so. ft was difficult to bring direct evidence, of course. One significant fact was that for many years, as far as his knowledge went, no candidate for political honors had included in his platform the plank of participation in European affairs. The act would bo •equivalent to political suicide. People thought-that the United States had no concern with the boundary line in Upper Silesia, the matter of post offices in Danzig, and Germans in Bohemia, and the issue at Corfu—and they wore right. Salvation seemed to lie in creating a European league, a Pan-American, league, and a Pacific league to deal with affairs peculiar to each of these regions; and a world league to combine these others for dealing with world affairs.