THE SCREAM OF THE EAGLE

Newspapers and public opinion have so long associated the name of George Harvey with sensationalism and starting announcements that it is apparently impossible for them to change their attitude. At least, so it would seem after reading the headlines of the Ambassador's speech at the Court of St. James.

"Harvey Kills League Hopes", or "U. S. Won't Accept League, Harvey Informs Britain", and other like statements were spread across the front of yesterday's journals. They were typical phrases--the scream of the eagle could be heard in each of them. But as a matter of fact, once the reader passed on to the speech itself, he discovered not only that it was most tactful and friendly, but that it brought out nothing very new or unusual after all. All that Mr. Harvey said was decided definitely by the whole country in the national elections six months ago. Mr. Harvey simply explained, in his official capacity, what most of England has in all probability known over since last November. He did only what every Ambassador has done for the last country or more--that is, to state formally the position of the Republic which he represents.

Our newspapers would do well to realize that Mr. Harvey is no longer a politician, and that any exaggeration of his statements is liable to cause serious misunderstandings. What he says from now on must of necessity be the echo of directions received from Washington. In reality his presentation speech was vastly more restrained and gentlemanly than the "Americanism" headlines would have us believe.