Evening journal., 1918-12-21
WILSON'S LEAGUE
OF nations PLAN
WEAK, LODGE SAYS
CONTINUED on page thlrteen.) }

II impossible TO break out upon the
world again with a war OF conquest" !"
Relteratlng earlier declarations,
Lodge said such peace treaty should
include these provisions:
Indemnity for the United States for
ships destroyed and people murdered on
vessels.
Restitution in part at least OF the
vast expenses forced upon us by Ger
many.
Restoration OF Belgium.
Return OF Alsace-Lorraine to France.
Return OF the Itala-lrredenta TO
Italy.
Establishment OF Jugo-Slav state
and an independent state formed by the
Czecho-Slayaks.
Security Of Greece and the settlement
OF Albania and Montenegro.
Restoration OF Rumania and the con-
solldation Of Rumanlan people under
one government.
Putting C0nstantlnople under inter-
national protection.
Independence OF Armenia.
A large. powerful and independent
Polish state.
Return OF Danish Slesvig TO the Danes
and the naturalization OF the Kiel Canal.
G "These physical guarantees" he eX-
planned, "all have one object and that
Is to so hem In Germany that she can
not attempt conquest IN Russia or In
the east and that the Slavic populations
which she has mercIlessly used in her
wars can never be used again"
Lodge also declared that America
must play her full part in the restora-
tiOn Of Russia, where the hardest task
Of all lies.
"Peace being our object, the first step
toward peace is 10 make a peace with
the country with which we have been
and are at war-that Is Germany" he
declared. "If the peace with Germany
Is 70 be durable, terms must be exacted
which will make IL impossible. so far
as human foresight Is concerned. for
Germany 10 break out again upon the
world with a war OF conquest. This
cannot be done by treaty engagements
and signatures TO documents. AT this
juncture OF affairs Germany would sign
anything and her pledge would be as
worthless as the guarantees she gave
TO Belgium.
Everybody would like 10 bring about
a world condition In which wars would
be impossible" he said OF the league
OF nations. But we ought 10 be ex-
tremely careful that In our efforts TO
reach the millennium we do not create
a system that will breed dissensions and
wars. II IS diflcult to discuss II at
this time because no definite plan OF
any kind has yet been put forward by
any responsible person.
And 1t is essential that before we
can pass upon a league we must have
the most precise definitions OF what is
intended. We must know what we are
to agree TO and no one has yet thought
Il worth the while to tell the people
OF the United States what they are TO
agree TO when league is formed"
Lodge contended we already have this
moment a league OF nations that has
been engaged in compelling Germany
10 make peace and In restoring peace
to the world"
at has taken four years OF the blood
lest war ever known TO get that peace"
he added by this existing league the
peace once signed must be carried out
and made effective. Therefore, II is 4
well to reflect that entering upon a new
and larger league OF nations involves /
heavier responsibility and
hangers which must be carefully exam
ned and deliberately considered before
hey are incurred.
"The attempt to form a league OF
nations, and ! mean an effective league.
Ntn power to order Its decrees-nO
,ther is worth discussing-can tend at
his moment only 10 embarrass the
)eace that we ought TO make at once
With Germsny.
ITO enter upon these disputed fields.
which are not necessary TO m. @ peace.
Germany seems likely to lead TO
rOuble.
Regarding "secret diplomacy" which
he President has declared should no
Onger be permitted TO exist, Lodge de-
ilared that America has never known
my secret policy as It is so-called.
The crying evil OF what is loosely
'alled secret diplomacy lies In the Sc
ret treaties familiar TO Europe" he
aid. mo such treaties ought to exist.
they never have existed here.
Il think u will be generally admitted
hat we have never had more secret
diplomacy than In the last four years
lnder President Wilson," he added.
Freedom OF navigation, Lodge said,
lad not been defined and could await
until later. Referring to
he greatly enlarged naval program now
dvocated, he said, ne had always fav-
red a strong navy, but did not favor
navy as large as England's.
Different interpretations have been
laced upon the principle OF economic
arrIers," he said. I'VE can make that
eace without determining at this mo-
1ent what we shall do with our tariff.
D the making OF which, think every
alton ought to have entire freedom.
"The point about armaments. in other
words the reduction OF ornaments, finds
queer expression in the adminIstra-
Ions new naval policy" he declared.
There IS no reason for bringing up at
his moment a general question which
annot now be determined with the
iorld in the broken and torn condition
now is in"
Lodge warned that German propa-
anda designed TO cause discord among
lies "is active and poisonous today,
J IL has ever been and that we must
ave common action in the peace as
e had in carrying on the war"