Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-03-15
Making America the Goat

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y Making America the Goat
The pence conference has made
rapid strides toward the revision of
the map Of Europe since President
Wilson has been in the United States.
1t has shorn Germany Of about 10000
square miles Of territory on the east
and west. it has rearranged the boun-
diaries Of some of the old states and
has created new ones. In the main
the map making is done. with the eX.
ception OF Russia. which the confer
ence has tacitly. II not openly con-
fessed as too much Of a problem for it
10 settle.
II is to be hoped that the new out
lines of Europe will make for per-
manent peace and security, and that
the Paris conference has not made
the mistakes Of the congresses OF
Vienna and Berlin. when peoples and
lands were bartered about by diplo-
mats whose guiding 1rinciple was
dynastic advantage. 1t does appear.
however. that the European members
OF the conference have played clever
game. and one which they have never
before been able to play: they have
contrived to place the responsibility
for the decisions on America.
In pursuance Of this plan the re.
port OF the boundary committee has
not been acted upon. and probably
will not be until the President has
passed upon it. Whether he approves
or disapproves my or all OF the pro-
posed changes he will win for the
United States the i'll will Of somebody,
for the claims Of the nations overlap
at nearly all points. In justice it
must be said that the situation is not
one Of his own making. but it has
been forced on the United States and
is really a tribute to her disinterest.
edness. While We may feel fattered
by the compliment, we must not fail
TO measure the length Of the string
attached to II. and We must not be
surprised if there is observable a GER
tain cooling of the ardor for Ameri.
can Judgment.
For the past year and more every
body who had a grievance has ap.
pealed to America to kiss it away.
America has been asked to be on both
sides OF every question. and it was
confidently expected that she could
and would do SO. 1t was perfectly
impossible position. Of course. and We
have been in some measure guilty Of
keeping up the delusion. We have
wished to be the friend and benefac-
tor Of mankind. and we have done in
calculable service for the world. but
We have created an impression Of
cmniscience and altruism which is
outside the limits Of human capacity.
The logical elimination OF this ap-
peared in the draft Of the league Of
nations covenant which is conceded
to be entirely Of European author
S..hSNh h,,r ~
maintaining world peace far more
heavily on the United States than on
any other nation. President Wilson is
gravely culpable for fostering the be-
lief among the peoples OF Europe that
the United States would henceforth
assume its burdens and Quarrels. es-
pecially in view of the fact that he
had never consulted the people of the
United States on this point. Europe
is not so much to be blamed for act
ing on this assumption which provid.
ed her with ar easy way out Of he.
diniculties.
Now it appears the conference has
heard the warning Of the Senate a.
embodied in the Lodge resolutions
and has definitely committed itself to
the making Of peace first. and con-
side:ation later of the proposed
amendments to the league of nations
covenant which will make that doc
ument safe for the United States
This does not mean. however. tina.
the stones and thorns are all removed
from our path. We still have a diff
fcult role to play and we need all the
statssmanship that we can command
TO preserve both our enviable posi-
tioa Of respect and good will before
the world. and at the same time. our
own national rights and privileges.
Our biggest job now is to make It
plain that We cannot serve humanity
by being Europe's goat.
The proposal to build a 500, 700
HOSPITAL on the hill overlooking the