MONDAY, MAY 1, 1922. AMERICA AND GENOA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 1 May 1922, Page 4

MONDAY, MAY 1, 1922. AMERICA AND GENOA.

Mr Lloyd George expressed a view which the majority of British people hold when, in referring to the dangerous situation in Europe, he said: '"'I wish America were here." He gave an outline of the enormous difficulties of finding a satisfactory solution of European affairs, and it is very sad indeed that the United States, with all the power and influence for peace which such a republic could bring to bear upon the world, should think it wise to remain at home and take no official part in what is probably the most important conference in history. Had Britain acted in a similar manner towards the Washington Conference- it would have achieved very little. British people are slow to anger and forgive very quickly, and that national trait is most important in seeking to establish permanent peace in the world. The people of the United States have much the same characteristics, but they are more jealous of their country than the British and have hedged themselves about with a sentiment of which the Monroe Doctrine is the expression. The Americans are fearful lest they might be carried away by "international entanglements" and perhaps be drawn into a war by some pact or treaty. No doubt their sentiment is due to a keen desire for peace, but they surely forget that they cannot by isolation maintain peace for all time. Britain is as peace-loving r.s the United States, but she is far more willing to make sacrifices for peace. Tor example, Britain could possibly have remained out of the war, though not -without a loss of honour and respect, but we all know that if Britain had stood aside and permitted Belgium and France to go under, Britain's peace could not ha^e been long maintained, for Germany, having mastered Europe, would soon have challenged Britain. And to-day Britain occupies a somewhat similar position in regard to European reconstruction. If she stands aside and leaves the Continent to make its own arrangements she Knows that the result would be two bitter eanlps —the German-Russian and the Franeo-li&Jign—and war would not be long In' woffling, fpr both sides are animated by the spirit of revenge and punishment. Those who know the Trench Nationalists can, well un<2£ r . stand their attitude at Genoa and the objections -which they raised to the Washington disarmament proposals. Britain stands between the great factions in Europe, and upon her rests the | greatest responsibility. The United States might have given much assistance had her people not been so obsessed with fears of those "international entanglements," which worry them as a nightmare. But Europe's reconstruction must be regarded as a very important matter to the United States. The Republic holds about twothirds of the world's gold at the present time, but its trade is suffering very severely from the loss of markets, and especially Europe's inability to trade. If the United States lend large loans to Europe the money would probably be spent in preparations for a new Avar, unless a definite plan of peace h;is been decided upon and ratified by the nations. The United States does not want to see a repetition of the disaster which ruined Europe, but is unwilling to take a hand in finding a basis for permanent peace, and has refused to accept the invitation to Genoa. It is unfair to Britain that the United States should decline such an opportunity, seeing that America's ambition is for peace and that she will benefit so greatly from a satisfactory solution J of the European problem. No wonder Mr Lloyd George said regretfully that it was too late and that Europe must I now try to settle its affairs without America. We feel that America acts to-day just as she did in the early part of the war. Let us hope that, if Genoa is successful, she will not reap such a harvest as she did by keeping out of the war until it suited her to enter. British people must feel disappointed with America, especially after the hopes which were raised by her calling the j Washington Conference. America's ' policy seems to be to leave the hard I work to someone else and then come in ' and gather the harvest. Ihere has ! never been a greater opportunity for ' the English-speaking races than there is at the present time, but it calls for great sacrifice, and America has not ; learned the real meaning of that to ' anything like the extent Brftain has.