Show national affairs by FRANK P LITSCHERT there have been suggestions from london during the past tew few weeks to the effect that the way to save cave the situation itu s tion so far as the naval confer nce ence Is concerned Is to draw up some sort ot of a mediterranean pact in which france would be guaranteed protection in case ot of trouble in the mediate mediterranean ane or in adjoining waters it has been 1 intimated too that such a pact would not be effective without the signature ot of the united states it la Is hardly necessary to say that the suggestions mentioned have not been greeted with any great outburst ot of enthusiasm thusia sm in the united states nothing can better illustrate the steady growth ot of feeling in the united states against foreign entanglements entangle ments than the coolness with which these suggest suggestions lom have been received especially e by the senators who have given public expression to the subject there can be little doubt that the majority feeling in the senate represents the overwhelming opinion of the people of the united states 0 4 0 of course the only plan tor for the united icat states to I follow Is to keep away from promissory notes of the kind entirely to do this we have only to go along alone cooperating where we can but retain retaining g to ourselves that independence ot of action ct which has been our international salvation on more than one occasion for example senator swanson of virginia ranking democratic member of the foreign relations committee in the senate la is quoted by the washington post poet as ayling 1 I do not tavor favor the united states entering into any security pact in connection with the mediterranean sea it would be contrary to the fundamental principle of the monroe doctrine toi for us to inject ourselves spec specially lauy into the affairs ot of the nations bordering on the mediterranean SM sea we do not permit these nations to inject themselves into the affairs of north and south america and I 1 see ECO no reason tor for us to inject ourselves into a guarantee of 0 territorial possessions and commercial affairs in the mediterranean the excuse given lor for the tour four power past under the washington treaty to in the western pacific was that we had possessions in the philippine islands and consequently were interested in guaranteeing security there no such reason exists in the mediterranean it if the proposed pact is effective and the nations bordering on the mediterranean to it tor for security it might result irk in embr embroiling ailing us in wars in which wo we have no interest interest and have no justl neat to meddle in it if it la is a harmless pact and the united states never intends to exercise any force under it then it Is a deception to the nations and the united states should never indulge in a policy ot of that 1 character it if it Is entered into it means either something or nothing if it means something then it involves us in untold biffl cuttles cult les it if it means nothing we should not be a party to a treaty which Is based on deception 0 40 expressions by republican senators fire are in line with the views ot of senator swanson this was to be expected of course as the republican members ot of the senate led the fight against the me entanglements entangle ments of the league ot of nations back in president wilson Wll sons administration but the fact that a member ot of the minority ot of senator Sw swansons ansons standing should take the position as outlined by the quotation ot of the washington newspaper Is ot of considerable sid sIde erable rabla significance 4 0 0 01 0 now it if a mediterranean pact might involve undo uncle sam in european troubles it t follows ot of course that membership in tho the league of nations or similar institution would be all the more dangerous I 1 from the american standpoint during the league fight it was often said that our joining the league would be like signing a promissory note in blank signing a mediterranean pact might be signing a promissory noto note too dangerous even if not as dangerous as joining an organization which might involve us all over oer the world |