New Britain herald., 1919-12-27
By THOMAS B. PRESTON.


 This year will go Gown in history as the Year of Confusion, because in it attempts to bring about a peaceful solu- ton of the problems created by the great war have failed AS matter of fact it mas been year of turmoil and divided councils. While nostilities were in progress the energies of the civilized nations were concentrated on the one object of victory. But when that had been attained it was very natural for tn allied and associated Powers to think of their own interests apart from the com mon purpose that had brought them together.
 occupied by the deliberations of the peace conference Whatever may be thought of it's shortcomings and it's inconsistencies it has changed the face of Europe and altered the map of the world for the better. New nations have been born others have been freed from oppression and still others. reversing the current of their history, have been set in the path of progressive development and relieved of the fear of foreign enemies. The in tentions of the conference have been evidently praiseworthy, far different from the brutal national selfishness that characterized it's only comparable pre- decessor. the Congress of Vienna. one hundred years ago. A
 Wherever it's decrees have been carried but in good faith the result has been beneficial to the great majority of the people concerned, not to dynasties or rulers The principles ol1 which it acted Serc:-Efrst, the ethnogra phic test-to give to native populations the fullest ex- pression of self-determnation. which is another way of saying government based on the American principle Of the consent of the governed: second, the strategic iest-giving to new frontiers such natural Eefences may be required by ordinary prudence to guard against attacks; third. .he economic tcst-giving to nations otherwise shut out from world commerce m outlet through districts Inhabited by foreign populations: fourth the historic :est-givilig to a race it's ancient donaln liter all the above requirements had pesn satisfactorily filled.
 Peace Conference Opens. .,
 With such principles as guide the peace conference held it's first session on Satur- | day afternoon, January IS, in the Hall Of Peace of the French Ministry of Foreign | Affairs in Paris. on the Quai dOrsay. on the left bank of the Seine. Twenty eight ] hates were represented, three among them, ooland CzecnosIovakia and the lIedjaz, ,eing new na rions which thus received in- terEationa recognition. From the first the five chief Powers in the world-Great < Britain, the United States, France, Italy / and Japan-took charge of affairs and a Supreme Council was formed by the seiec- / ion of delegates from each Practically
 
 ference devoived upon Lloyd George. the British Prime Minister; President Will uon, who had gone abroad in December md visited England and Italy, returning Q, Paris on January z; Georges Clemen- ceau the French Premier; Vittorio Or sndo the Italian Prime Minister, and the Marquis Saionji, formerly Prime Minister oS Japan.
 The five principal states of the British Empire, Canada. Australia, New Zealand, nt.y DyNC- ! ate representation in the assembly or the proposed League of Nations, a legislative pcdy instituted ito secure international peace and security by tEe acceptance of obligations not to resort to war. The assembly was intended to be advisory stsdy the real governing power to be vested m the Executive Council successor of the snrreme Council, composed of the five thief Powers. The fact, however. that the Srincapal components of the British Ern- pire were given representation m aaeleloh 10 that Of Great Britain herself was one If the objections raised in the United statAs Senate which caused the latter to redec4 the treaty with Germany. Delay h, the conclusion of peace was due partly ! los the fact that the covenant of the League ] If Nations was made part of the treaty. Besides the states already mentioned he following took part in the first meet nE of tho peace conference:-Belsium, 1 Brazil, China, Cuba, Greece. Guatemala, Hayti. Honduras, Liberia. Nicaragua, Panama Portugal, Roun1ania, Serbia and sia1n In addition to these tWenty-eisht original members, or twenty-three count Ing the British Empire as one. it was de- sidod that four. of the Powers in state of e1iplomatic rupture with the enemy Bolivia Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay. should take part in the sittings.
 Thus the peace conference included numerically more than half the govern ] nents of the world, geographically about n6 1 hree-auarters of it's inhabitants. One aation of the twenty-two declaring var, against Germany was lost in the .earrangement Of states-Montenesro, whose legislature voted to unite with Serbia Bosnia and Herzegovina in the aesTiy created kingdom of the Serbs, Eroats and Slovenes, known as Jugo- slavia. Two others, San Marine and Costa Riea, were not represented at the :onference. Santo Domingo. who had sus- serd ed relations with Germany, was also anrepresented.
 But tho greatest vacancy in the peace conference was that occasioned by the abSenca Of Russia. For several months after the revolution and the abdication of he Tsar in March, 1917, Kerensky en- leavored to keep faith with the Allies and son tinue armed opposition to the Ieutons sn the eastern front, but on November / us governanent was oyerthrown by the Bolshevfk and Lenine and Trotzky signed a treaty of peace with the Central Pow srs at Brest-Litovsk on March g. 1sls a eeace which gave Germany a vast in- er..sa of force on tho western front by transferring thither many divisions which b.d been fighting in the east.
 There was considerable opposition to the Bolsheviki in both Siberia and European Russia. czechoslovak prisoners or war rho had been fighting in the Austrian armies. were released and tried to aid he Allies by forming along the Volsa a sarr2er to the eastward march of the Boi-