Foreign Affairs

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ON MARCH 4, 1921, Mr. Harding was inaugurated President of the United States and Mr. Charles Evans Hughes assumed the onerous duties of Secretary of State. There could be no doubt as to the immensity of the task which confronted the new Secretary. The whole world was out of joint and though he was not "born to set it right" he was called upon to conduct and in large measure to shape the relations of his country with the rest of this disjointed world. The wisdom of his policy might affect the fate of countless millions of his fellow creatures and influence profoundly the course of history. It was a responsibility no man could undertake lightly, but the opportunities of achievement could not but appeal to one's highest aspirations.

For the conduct of its foreign affairs the new administration apparently enjoyed a highly advantageous situation. It had behind it the sweeping victory of the presidential election which had not only brought Mr. Harding into the White House but had given the Republican Party a large majority in both branches of Congress. Accordingly the executive, at least in theory, could count on the support of the legislative branch of the government. There was the less likelihood of dissension between the two because the American people had just given a clear indication of their desires at that moment. Unquestionably they wished to keep out of European complications and in particular not to join the League of Nations. For the time being further discussion on this topic was academic. The Senate had refused to confirm the Peace of Versailles, or to take an Armenian mandate; the treaty of alliance with France was shelved without even coming up for discussion; and America no longer participated officially in any of the Allied conferences. The table was thus cleared for a new deal...