Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-03-07
The Need Of Peace.

t06J9, 20 ne QeCtaSeQ In new OK.
The ending cannot come any too soon
for Us and not half soon enough for
the score Of nations over there
directly involved. It matters not
now 50 much to what extent the
covenant has failed as a groundwork
for revision, as does the possible de-
lay tn putting It into shape for ae-
ceptAnce BY the United States and
other nations. The L. S. Senate
does not hold all the critics Of the
document by any means. Other ma
lions are considering their own pet
corns. to them as important as is
our Monroe doctrine to US.
Perhaps we should FIRST disabuse
or minds Of the frequent under
standing that the covenant read by
President Wilson as chairman OF the
committee entrusted with drafting a
constitution, was Wilson document.
Opposition based on that score is as
silly as it is unsound. Some Of the
biggest legal minds and students Of
international affair. to be found
among the great powers have been
working for months upon the pro-
visions Of constitution for league
OF nations. That the best they could
provide has not met with unanimous
approval is not surprising. No ma
ton is wholly satisfied. nor will any
nation be fully satisfied with the
amended result.
Mr.. Wilson has taken, arbitrarily.
upon himself in Europe what Mr..
Taft is doing in this country. He
has had little more to do with the
covenant than has MIR. Taft. other
than to present the report from his
committee to the peace congress.
Now the demand-dcveloped from
political exigency-is for peace first
and a league afterward. Once more
we ind ourselves in agreenaat with
President Wilson a. European
premiers that the league should be
the keynote of the peace settlement.
With every legislative, business and
industrial function of civilization de-
layed. stalled or destroyed by the
dead hours between peace and war.
yet a league of peoples united in a
common cause to prevent another
war is the biggest thing IN sight.
But the Lord knows there is need
OF peace settlement as there was
need Of ending hostilities. 4 few
weeks more of the hammering that
Gen. Foch was giving the Huns last
October would. undoubtedly. have
simplded peace settlements. but the
league Of nations covenant ought to
have been drafted long ago. and
should not have interfered with
peace or with President Wilson's
duties in Washington.
Il anybody wishes the reasons for
ending the war here are some of
them: First. all Of central Europe
east Of the Rhine, and large part
OF Asia is in state Of turmoil and
revolution. for which Germany is 70.
spensibie. The war-ravaged coun-
tries Of Russia, Roumania, Poland,
Lithuania, Austria and the Balkan
states are so Frustrated that even if
they did not have to fight the men
ace Of bolshevism. they could not re-
turn to peace conditions except by
violent commissions, economically
and politically. AS a matter OF fact
German propaganda is now actively
and successfully at work to stir up
and tan race strife between the peo-
pies who occupy the territory lying
between tho Gulf Of Finland and the
Mediterranean Sea- The Ckranians
and Lthuanians are contesting with
Poland the frontier regions on the
south and north respectively: the
oolshevih arc in Wilma, the ancient
capital Of Lithuania: Serbs and Rou
mauians are at odds on the Danube;
Poles and Bohemians in upper
Suesia: Jugo-Slavs and Italians in
Dalmatia: Greeks and Italians in
Epirus: while in Russia proper the
advantage taken by Germany at the
treaty Of Brest-Litovsk has worked
Russia into the most hopeless chaos
OF which the world has ever had
knowledge. In the meantime under
the pernicious and impossible princi-
pie Of sell determination" Germany
has quietly annexed the German
AustEtans and increased her popula.
ton TO about 100000 as against
100000 when the war began.
Second, west Of the Rhine. France,
England and the United States are
uncertain what to do next because
the President after having stalled the
war and prevented 1t from being
fought to an unconditional surrender.
has now stalled the peace and. up to
date. has prevented it from being car
ried to successful elimination.
france 10 still left wAh her wounds
open and bleeding, her finances