Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1919-02-06
WANT UNITED STATES TO TAKE
ON SOME OF GERMAN COLONIES

i
tories Is the most difficult OF the ques
tons which the conference has to face
From hundred lips and pens the
answer will come that the solution lies
In international control The league OF
nations will solve the problem.
The booklet then emphasizes that
the league of nations. I'm itself cannot
provide actual government for the col
onies: that government must be fur
nished by one Of the associated pow
ers. acting in way rs agent for the
league OF nations and of course respOn-
sible to the league.
Freedom Is Secured
'The control of the four continents
has fallen. or is now falling. to the
free peoples of the EARTH" the booklet
with the Niscount Grey Introduction
states. and by that control the exist
ence of freedom is secured, not only
in Europe, but also in America and
Australia.
But what is the effect of this vic
tory to be on Asia, Africa and the
scattered remnants of primitive So
ciety who inhablt n hundred Pacific
isles? In the end the effect must be
that they, too. will achieve the art
of governing themselves. But the
question, how soon can the end be
reached depends on a right under
standing by the free nations who now
control the world of the delicate and
complex nature of the problem. Fail
ure TO grasp it will not only delay
the end but may vet set the civilized
world by the ears" in brief. may yet
form the grounds for another war.
There is no sentiment expressed in
the publications now being issued on
the colonial problem against any fea-
ture of the fourteen points laid down
in President Wilson's peace declara- |
ton. Instead, there is shown an eff |
fort to make these points harmonic
with the arguments advanced for
American participation in colonial gov
eminent.
What Wilson Said.
President Wilson's fifth clause, in
the notable fourteen points, asks for
4
impartial adjustment of all colonial
claims based upon a strict observance
Of the principle that in determining
Ill such questions of sovereignty the
of the populations concerned
must have equal weight with the equi-
able claims of the government whose
title Is to be determined"
The whole point Mt issue, according
o this recently published British view,
5 that no government shall claim eX
lusive title to the captured lands. but {
hat one government must take the
of administration and be
in turn to an international
tribunal.
Clause twelve Of the presidents
eace terms provide for the looping
fl of Armenia and Palestine from
turkey and insist that these one-time
ubject states shalr "be assured an I'M
Quilted security of life and an abso- .
ltely unmolested opportunity of au- o
development" which oppor-
unity, it is pointed out here. would
lost assuredly be provided were
merica acting as kind of big broth "
: to the Armenians and people of Pal
slime.
There is hope here among the most 7
British thinkers that Amer
a will discard her traditional aloof-
ass. and become custodian of the Ar q
enians of Palestine, and take charge -
zen of the Dardanelles, maintaining
l open-door policy, policy the Brit
h will undoubtedly strongly urge on
e French and Italian governments as
eXpedent in wise territorial govern
emf.
1t is even being urged that we take
er the task of preserving the au-
nomy of Persia and Arabia.
That America possesses knowledge
r handling such Il large assignment
undoubted 1t is pointed out that
,berts college and the American mis-
ms in the near East have given US
share, if not monOp-
:, of publicspirited men, many of
en- natives of this section of the
rid who consequently have first-hand
owledge of these regions.
from the near East,
lerca could promote railroad con-
uction without offenSe to the Brit
/, and could assist in that most vex-
Gus problem of the day, the restora-
n of Russia, the blind giant among
lions, the Grey booklet says.