A Letter to the Bishop

Two weeks ago Bishop Thomas F. Gailor, President of the National Council of the Protestant Episcopal Church, wrote to President Harding commending the latter's stand on the World Court question: " There are many thousands of thankful citizens, grateful to you for asserting the responsibility of the United States in the affairs of the world."

The President replied on June 1, but his letter was not made public at that time.

Almost a week later Senator Watson of Indiana called at the White House to confer with the President on the Court. As he left he told reporters:

Approximately 22 Senators, according to the best estimates, are disinclined to support the World Court proposal unless reservations are adopted that make it plain that the United States is not entering the League of Nations."

The next day Senator Fess of Ohio, returning to Washington from a tour of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Kentucky, told the President (and reporters) : " The Republican politicians just now are fearful that the World Court proposal means going into the League, and the rank and file are timorous on the same ground."

Whether or not it was as a result of the utterances of the two Senators, President Harding a week after writing to Bishop Gailor made public his letter. In it he declared that he did not "believe any man could confront the responsibility of a President of the United States and yet adhere to the idea that it was possible for our country to maintain an attitude of isolation and aloofness in the world ... to me it (adherence to the World Court) seems to meet the requirements of our peculiar situation, and permits us to say to the world that we are ready for our part in furthering peace and stability, without entanglement or surrender of cherished policy."