The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1918-12-27

and impose the terms upon them
Lodge asserted. when this is done
the first great step will be taken
toward the establishment of the
worlds peace. Ii we eliminate Ger
many from the opportunity to make
war, the only source from which i
great war is likely to come would be
closed for generations"
Nothing can be done unless we
work in complete harmony with those
associated with u.s. Lodge said. Ger
man propaganda is busy at work try
ing to cause friction.
ITO attempt in any way to separate
us from our Allies now or to prevent
perfect unity of action, is as harmful
as such efforts were when we were
lighting together in northern France =
Declaring that we must not leave
the work of saving civilization half
done, Lodge said the United States
must do its share in the occupation Of
German territory to be held until in
IDENTITIES are paid. There is also the
responsibility, he said, Of doing our
part in aiding the peoples to whom we
have given freedom and independence.
We cannot shirk the Russian ques-
tion,' he asserted "The restoration
of Russia is essential not only to the
pence, but TO the economic life Of the
world. We have troops now IN the
northern part OF western Russia and
at Vladivostok. Unfortunately they
are SO few in number that it Is greatly
10 be feared they are wholly made
auate for the work they have to do.
Nevertheless they are there and must
be sustained and very probably in
creased
How the problem can be solved,
Lodge amitted, he did not know.
There was one ray of light coming
from the people of the Ukraine, and
by assisting these people who have
shown some capacity for self govern
ment, it may be possible, he believed
to rebuild Russia.
We cannot leave Russia lying help
less and breathing out infection on the
world he said. If Russian anarchy
should be permitted to spread through
the western civilization, that civiliza.
tion would Gail
\ Emphasizing that the problems ht
1ontlined for solution at the peace
table were appalling in their diff
lcuIty and magnitude" Senator Lodge
asked, would it not be folly at this
time to 70 farther"
Turning TO those Of President Will
sons peace points which he believed
lcould better be considered at later
ime, Lodge asserted that there al
ways will be need for secrecy ii deli
cate diplomatic negotiations
s think it will be generally admit
ted that we never have had more Sc
tcnet diplomacy than during the last
four years under President Wilson
which would seem to Indicate that il
| is easier TO talk about than TO discard
these methods.
Whatever this country's views may
be with regard to diplomacy, Lodge
! said, peace could be made with Ger.
lmany without undertaking to settle
what shall constitute diplomacy in the
future and what shall not.
/ He asserted that the meaning Of the
phrase freedom of the seas" never
has been defined, and that if it means
! the abolition Of the right Of blockade
/, the United States as we'll as Grea
Britain must have serious objection
to it.
Lodge recalled to the Senate tina
Secretary Daniels had laid before tn,
House Naval Affairs Committee ma
val program that in 1926 will give tn,
United States navy equal to that O
Great Britain.
He always had favored a strong
navy, he said, but the new program
went far beyond anything he ever con
Itemplated.
Searching for an explanation 10
the sudden shift in naval policy, Sen
.ator Lodge said he had heard report
that the great navy program was in
tended to be used in the negotiation
to compel ENGLAND to agree to disarm
ament under the menace OF great ma
val competition on our part This the
ory must be false, he said
i cannot for moment think tha
such an idea should be entertained b,
any one, but it gives suggestion o
the impression which this proposal 70
enormous naval increases brings" h
Iadded.
Referring to Admiral Badgers sug
gestion that the ships were to be use
for police duty in connection with tn
| league of nations, Lodge said:
1T seems to me extraordinary tha
| we should enter into a scheme 70