Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-06-12
Thursday June II, 1919.
Organize, Standardize, Advertise
and Patronize Maine products. This
slogan Of the State Agricultural
and Industrial League is a pretty
good one for the people Of Maine to
follow.
Business Makes the Terms?

The peace conference has reached
the most dangerous Of all it's prob
lens and one which many people
thought was settled.
1t is the question Of modifying the
mount of reparation that Ger
many is to be made to pay
The Germans through their dele
gates have made much greater howl
over this part Of their sentence than
they have over any other. They do
not mind bearing the onus of re-
sponsibility for the war or the obi
UNI of such terms as have been con-
stantly applied to them during the
war. They don't mind social ostra
cism or international aloofness, un-
less it affects their business inter-
ests. When it does they soueal like
a stuck pig. The thought of having
to work for a period of years for the
purpose of paying damages and in
IDENTITIES to their conquerors gals
them beyond measure. They see no
chance of profits accruing to them
selves and hence they see no use in
living under the terms of the treaty.
All through the negotiations of
the conference certain circles of
opinion have continually maintained
that if the financial sections of the
treaty were made too severe the
present government of Germany
would fall and no government could
be founded which would sign the
document Apparently these views
have made a distinct impression in
recent days for the council of four
logger heads besides. AS usual,
news that tells the truth is exceed
ingly difficult to obtain. One thing
only stands out clear and definite:
NJ. Clemenceau is absolutely against
any further modification of terms in
favor Of the enemy. He feels and
France feels that far too many con-
cessions have been already. corsid-
ering that Germany is the defeated
foe. But aside from general prin-
ciples France knows that if she does
not get financial assistance soon and
sure her internal situation will be-
come desperate. All the more so if
her enemy neighbor whose factories
are all ready to start on capacity
production as soon as they can get
materials. is not handicapped SUM-
GENTLY to give France chance.
Premier Clemenceau's position is
we'll set forth and easy to UNDER
stand.
Under date Of June 5 dispatches
stated that the council had decided
to refuse Germany's request for a
definite lump sum covering all repa-
ration accounts. On June Presi-
dent Wilson was reported as 'abso-
lutely opposed to any change in the
principle Of the obligation on the
part Of the Germans to make the
fullest reparation" and in this he
was said to be lat one with Premier
Clemenceau." In the dispatches Of
the 7th both were said to be opposed
to the sweeping changes demanded
by the English, President Wilson be-
ing probably willing to make more
changes than Premier Clemenceau.
Tuesdays dispatches have a more
compromising tone. The French are
reported as being anxious over the
Anglo American willingness to meet
some Of the Germans opposition to
the treaty. Premier Clemenceau is
still holding to his original position.
for we read Of the implacable stand
Of the French premier against any
notifications in the Peace Treaty
President Wilson and Premier
Lloyd George of Great Britain. who
are declared to have recognized the
necessity for lessening somewhat
the demands in certain clauses Of
the treaty which would not funda-
mentally affect the severity of the
document as a whole
Lloyd-George last week stood
alone for acceding to the demands Of
the Germans for amelioration Of the
terms. In England the Liberals and
Conservatives, big business and Ia
Dor are all against the treaty as it
stands. 1t is a combination hard to
beat and Lloyd George is only rep
resenting his constituents in oppos-
ing it in the council. The opinion is
fairly general that any attempt to
coerce Germany into fulfilling the
terms Of the treaty by force would
meet with a general strike in Eng
land.
The two premiers then stand
squarely opposed on the matter.
Premier Orlando Of Italy has been
holding aloof from the discussion al
together as the terms are between