The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-10-20
TIE TRUTH ABOUT THE TROUBLE
By HUGH WOODSTOCK

In every case, the trouble was quiescent at the moment the Peace ! Treaty was signed, because there was the air of general attention to the Treaty and to the League which, it was confidently expected, would take charge immediately of issues in dis pute. Good faith was to be the key note of the Leagues success: for the moment every nation put ftself in the mood for an exhibition of good faith.
 The moment passed, and instead of the League, so carefully planned, coming straightway into existence and clinching the receptive attitude of the Powers at that moment, it has been diverted to fulfil a quite selfish purpose of political hide-and-go-seek ? in the United States of America That Is the precise situation
 The ablest case presented to the Peace Conference was that of Greece; Eleutherios Venizelos knew what to say and how to say it. The Conference did not feel able to go to the whole length on the matter of self determination, and asked Veni- zelos to take part of what was just Iy due, and leave the rest to be made all right by the League of Nations. Venizelos wisely and honorably said
 
 of the Greek claim to Thrace that he was quite willing to leave it to the League of Nations, He acted in good faith. But the existence of the League is threatened; and Venize:os asks who is to make good to Greece in the matter of Thrace. IT there is to be no Leag to adjudicate, are the Greeks to be left to measure their strength with their neishbors, and look after their own justice?
 There is a consistent Greek popu- lation in all of Thrace; in some parts there are many Turks, and some Bull gars; but the decrease in the Greek population is due more to careful "elimination" by the Turks than any relinquishment of their traditional homeland by the Greeks themselves.
 Opposed to a Greek entrance on the Black Sea and to any enlarge ment of Greek ideas at all is Italy. who is inclined to see an enemy in every swelling shadow anywhere in Southern Europe. As with Plume, so possibly with Thrace; the only thing checking the several interests is the possibility of the League coming like a gigantic policeman to tap Wit: i:S billy any obstreperous nationaHties But if there Is to be no League, and FIJI Opt, dbSoL DillS (4It uG(4eiilAeiIoi ) oratory of the United States, has been inclined to believe there will not be, then-let the fireworks begin.
 So it is also in Asia Minor, where the ambitions of the kingdom of Hedjab and it's Mohammedan sub jects in Syria desire to win the whole peninsula for Russian and Emir FeiuI and British protection; against shem are the Syrians of Mount Lebanon who want the protec- ton of France. If the League of Nations decides it and issues a man date, very well, but if not!
 It is the same all the world over; follow the news for yourself; increas- ing doubt of the Leagues success sends the European to the grindstone with his knife in his hand. and his pistol in the belt He knows full well that, without the League, it is liter ally matter of who can shoot first and straightest; in fact the great war might as well not have been fought: American boys might as well not have died; sacrifices might as we'll not have been made.
 They know 1t over there. They know it is the League and careful in ternationa1 behavior or no League and a bloody free-for-all for the swag.
 What are you going to do about it? And how do you like the frog politics that is trying to make campaign dodgers out Of the graves in France?
 When we went into the war it was because we wanted to end all war, because we hoped that out of the great sacrifice would come a policy that would do away with the old or der of things, the old order that grabs the gun and regrets afterward. The League of Nations plan is the one step forward. it points to the right way It says stop and think before you go to war. For the sake of your children and your children's children urge your Senators to take that step.