Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-07-23
MOSES FEARS
fcontinued from PAGE Qnel

Continued from Page Onsl
everywhere throughout It's manifold
provision it's trainers have felt oblig-
ed to turn to the league Of nations as
the indispensable instrumentality for
the maintenance of the new order
which this instrument purposes to
set up.
1T wish to call attention to the
manner in which the signatories to
the instrument have separated them
selves into two distinct groups-the
first comprising the United States,
the British empire. France, Italy and
Japan, and everywhere throughout
the treaty described as the princi-
pal allied and associated powers; and
the second all the other helligerents
with the exception of Costa Rica,
whose absence from the peace table
has not yet been explained-to the
number of %.
in the delimitation of the new
frontier line between Belgium and
Germany, it is not the league Of ma
sons. five of whom will be appointed
by the principal allied and associated
powers, who will assume this task. In
matters of controversy relating to the
return Of Alsace-Lorraine to French
possession, it is not the league of
nations which functions, but the CEN
trail Rhine commissioner organize
ton set up years ago under the old
order and now made use Of in the
light of q new day.
I'm the establishment Of the new
Czecho- Slovak state 1t is not the
league of nations which will deter
mine it's frontiers, but it is the prin-
cipal allied and associated powers.
Similarly with Poland and so. too,
with East Prussia.
Germany renounces it's rights and
titles over Danzig not to the league
of nations. but in favor of the prin-
cipal allied and associated powers,
who are to appoint a commission to
delimit the frontier. 80. too, with
the redistribution of sovereignty over
Schleswig. The Limitation Of arrna-
ments has been presented to us as
one of the fundamental purposes Of
the league. Yet nowhere in the in
strument does this appear to be the
fact. Throughout the whole line Of
infinitely detailed stipulations which
reduce Germany to military impo-
tence 1t Is not the soothing agency
Of the league of nations, which es-
says the task but the strong arm of
the principal allied and associated
powers.
Germany renounces in favor the
principal allied and associated pow
ers. and none to the league of ma
tions, all her rights and titles over
her overseas possessions.
Il shall not dwell upon the shame
full episode of Shantung, pausing on
ly to say that it is not to the league
of nations but to Japan. that Ger
many renounces her rights. titles
and privileges under the provisions
of the treaty.
THE provisions for rendering
Germany harmless in military
sense occupy many pages of the
treaty. But here again it is con-
ference of military experts of the
principal allied and associated pow
ers and not the league of nations
which will fix the reductions to be
made in the number of German eff
fectives and will approve the loca-
ton and restrict the number of fac
tories and works wherein Germany
will be permitted to manufacture
arms and ammunition. The decrease
of German forces upon the seas is
likewise deemed by the treaty of too
much importance to be turned over
to the league of nations.
1.-THE task Of reparations will rest
in the hands Of an inter-allied COM
mission. In this day of open COW
enants openly arrived at it is inter-
esting further to note absolute re-
quirement in the treaty that all pro-
ceedings of this commission shall be
private, unless for special reasons
and on particular occasions the COM
mission shall decide otherwise.
THE principal allied and associat-
ed powers figure rs times; the allied
and associated powers figure As
times-a total Of 121. Whereas, the
league of nations figures altogether
81 times. and of these 81 refer to its
nebulous connection with the admin
istration of the Saar valley. 1t will
be neither a delicate nor difficult
task of dissection to remove from
the treaty the Is general provisions
which it contains in regard to the
league of nations.
II hope that an examination Of the
treaty will convince others, as it
has convinced me, that the instru-
ment is infinitely worse for US than
even the league of nations, bad as it
is.
1.-The provisions Of this treaty i'm
mediately and without recourse
thrust US into the endless snarls of
attempting to set new boundaries
for contentious races in Europe and
impose upon us a share in the task
of holding Germany in leash.
This treaty of Versailles is as men
acing to the peace Of the world as
the treaty of Berlin was forty years |
ago, and unless we can make in it |
changes which I deem primarily es-
sential. l shall not vote for its rati- |
fication."
The S7th annual reunion Of the |
First Northern Maine Regiment, |