Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, JANUARY 30th, 1923. AMERICAN SENATE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 January 1923, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, JANUARY 30th, 1923. AMERICAN SENATE.

I.x the days of our forefathers, the word conjured up thoughts of wise, grave, experienced impressed with a sense of responsibility, and whose utterances were entitled to respect. It is doubtful if to-day the mention of the word instinct i vely creates a similar mental picture, especially when the American brand is particularised. There must, of course, be some in tlie Upper House of the United States Congress who are worthy of the high position they have attained, but if cabled reports of the proceedings during the past few years are any criterion, there are dso some American Senators who seem more cpialifted to be inmates of a mental hospital than members of a body with enormous power and worldwide influence. It is possible that an unfair impression is gained by non-residents of Ihe United States as to Senatorial doings, and that only the “purple pat dies’’ are cabled for foreign consumption. Yet on every question of world importance, the debates in the Senate appear to be marked by individual desire for limelight, eccentric theories about

international politics, obstinate obstruction to whatever is favoured by tlie Administration, and, generally, a. desire to induce the world to believe that Senator This or Senator That really counts. I'his sort of thing must make very difficult the task of negotiating with the United States, especially injt< problem so technical and intricate as the funding of war debts. Britain sent three or four acknowledged financial experts to liscuss the matter with American representatives similarly qualified, Yet, throughout, their deliberations and works were checked or thwarted by the necessity of not '(fending Senator Hayseed, who knows little of economics, lint wlio is eager to let tin' count r realise that “he has his eye upon 'em.'’ Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, on returning to England ITom his recent mission, was more trank in his comments Io an interviewer lhan is customary. He ibeing criticised in the I niied States for this candour, but it. is doubtful il' Ins owVi countrymen and the dwellers in the overseas ■ portions of the Empire will, con- ] viet him of serious error. It is limo the American Congress, both , Itepresentalives and Senate, weiv I old blunt truths, and some of the i members tanight Io be less im- ; pressed with their own import- ■

ance. Solution of tbe post-war problems would have been much nearer by now had the American Senate been .wiser and less parochial in outlook. Whatever their capacity as legislators for ' domestic affairs—entirely the Americans’ own business—in most foreign questions they seem hopelessly overweighted, but unhappily, the votes of the ignorant count equally with those of the wise, who are too often in a minority. Senatorial tactics do’ real harm to international goodwill, and after the shock to Senators’ susceptibilities is over, it is to be hoped that Mr Baldwin’s comments will be taken in the friendly spirit they were meant, and that the Senate will set its house in order, and become more worthy of * the great nation in whose name ! it is entitled to speak.