The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-12-26
DEMANDS
HUN|NOEMN|Ty
Massachusetts, Senator Asks
That Germany Be Made to
Make Restitution to the Unit
ed States.

Washington, Dec. 23.-Five of Pres
ident Wilson's ii principles Of peace
were help up in'the Senate today by
Senator Lodge, the republican leader
as questions which might lead to divi-
sion among the nations which have
conquered Germany, and which GER
tainly should be postponed until after
the peace conference. They relate to
secret diplomacy, freedom of the seas,
economic barriers, reduction of arma-
ment and the league Of nations.
The senator recalled that no treaty
can bccc.ae binding upon the United
States Without the Senate's consent,
AMI lie. Jared that untoward results
couiu be avoided only IL the Senate
expressed itself frankly in advance.
While I think it a grave mistake"
he said, ION the part of the president
to ignore the Senate, because our ulti-
mate responsibility in making the
peace is quite equal to his own, I have
no fault to find with his not appoint
ing senators as delegates to the peace
conference. There is no obligation
whatever upon him to make such ap-
pointments.
In the present situation" he said,
Il think it of last Importance that those
concerned in the actual negotiation Of
h treaty should at least know the
views of the Senate, so far as the post
master general, in control Of the cables,
and Mr.. Creel, in control of the news,
will permit"
Freedom of Seas.
In his discussion of the freedom OF
the seas, the senator called attention
to the strange development" in con-
nection with the pending naval appro-
priation bill and the advocacy by Rear
Admiral Badger Of the program call
ing for a navy as large as that or
England by 1925. He said he thought
he had favored building more ships
than anybody else, but that he never
had contemplated such a program, and
did not think it necessary.
The only naval danger that we were
obliged to consider In the past on the
Atlantic coast has ceased to be. We
need a powerful fleet in the Pacific, and
| feel sure we will have a navy sufh-
cient to furnish that feet to the western
coast"
OF suggestions that a great navy is
needed for police duty in connection
with the league of nations, the senator
said he would not stop to ask who is
to order that navy about the world"
Mr.. Lodge said he would be glad II
the Senate debates on peace were sup
plemented by some definite resolutions
expressing views on important points.
Peace being our object, terms must
be exacted which will make 1t, so far
as human foresight goes, impossible for
Germany to break out again upon the
world. This car not be done by treaty
engagements and signatures to docu-
ments.
Pledge Worthless.
At this j%uncture of affairs Germany
would sign anything n her pledge
would be as worthless as the guaran-
tees she gave to Belgium. 1t is well
also to remember that Germany did not
change its nature overnight when the
kaiser ran away to Holland. The deep
rooted ambition, the evil principles
carefully instilled for half a century,
the barbarous methods and doctrines
all remained unaltered. l do not need
to rehearse what those physical guar
antees should be, for [ have stated my
views upon them more than once to
the Senate, and l think there is gen.
eral agreement upon them not only in
the Senate, but among the American
people. They include the restoration
of Belgium, the return of Alsace-Lor-
raine to France, Of the Italia Irredenta
to Italy, the establishment of a Jugo-
Slav state and Of an independent state
formed by the CZecho- Slovaks. They
include also the security Of Greece: the
settlement of Albania and Montenegro;
the restoration Of Rumania; the CON
solidation of all the Rumanian people
under one government as well as the
naturalization of the straits; the put
ting of Constantinople under interna-
tio1al protection with Greece perhaps
as the mandatory of the powers to adj
minister the affairs Of the city; the in
dependence Of Armenia; the return OF
those portions OF Asia Minor where
Greeks are predominant to Greece: the
protection Of Syria and Palestine from
the Turks: a large, powerful and in
dependent Polish state; in the indepen-
dcnce Of Russia's Baltic provinces: the
return Of Danish Slesvig to the Danes,
and the naturalization of the Kiel
canal.
Must Fay lndemnities.
These physical guarantees which I
have thus far suggested all have n
object and that is so to hem Germany
in that h cannot attempt conquest in
Russia or the east and that the Slavic
populations which she has mercilessly
used in her wars, can never be so used
by her again.
in addition to these guarantees
there must be heavy indemitias paid
by Germany for the ruin she has
wrought in Belgium and northern
France and in Italy and for her de-
struction Of vessels, both neutral and
belligerent through the use Of sub
marines. In those indemnities the
United States must have it's proper
and proportionate share, not only di-
rect indemnity for it's ships destroyed
by submarines and its people murdered
on the Lusitania and other vessels, but
a suitable restitution. in part at least,
of the vast expenses forced upon us
by Germany.
1T will be for the peace conference
to determine what disposition should
be made of the German colonies, but
one thing is essential and that is they
should not be returned to the tyranni-
cal misgovernment OF Germany and
hat she should be deprived &C those
means for extending her commerce and
building up military outposts In all
parts of the world"