Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-06-20
ARTICLE VIII.
Roduetion Of Armaments

, ARTICLE VII.
Reduction Of Ar.naments
BY Article VIII the League members
expressly declare that the maintenance
Of peace requires the reduction OF ma
tiensl armaments to the lowest point
consistent with national safety and tho
enforcement by common action Of inter-
national obligations. Taking account Of
the geographical situation and circum-
stances Of each state, the Council is to
formulate plans for such reduction for
tho consideration and action of the ssv.
eral governments. The League men,
bers agree to exchange full information
as to the scale Of their armaments. their
military and naval programmes and
their warlike industries. After adop-
tion by the several governments OF the
plan Of reduction. the limits Of arma-
ments there n fixed are not to be ex.
oeeded without the concurrence of the
Council. The PLANS are to be reconsid-
cred and revised at least every 10 years.
The League members agree that the
manufacture by private enterprise Of
munitions and implements of war 's
Is to advise how these evils can be pre-
vented.
This is the first Of the four great
steps toward securing permanent reace
In the League Constitution and is as inn
portant as any. One of the great fac-
tors in bringing on this war and in
making 1t what it was was the race IN
armaEnents between the European ma
tons. Prussia under Bismark perfected
its military establishment by winning
three wars. first against Denmark, sec.
ond!y against Austria and then against
F'rsnee-thus the German Empire was
made In 1871. From that time on, tho
German armament has been increased
and has kept pace with the growth Of
German desire for world domination. A
thorough and drastic system of con.
scsiption, military training and reserves.
built up the German military establish.
msnt 50 that 1t was a perfect machine
and Tar moro formidable than that Of
any other Government. Fear Of It
prompted every continental nation not
IN aliiancs with Germany to enlarge its
armament. Gsrmany's allies, Austria
and Italy. Joined In the race at her In.
stance. Thus these huge war establish.
ments went on increasing from decade
to decade. Altar . time, Germany nc.
quired naval ambition. and then the
race began between her and Great
Britain.
Evils Of MiIitarism
the inevitable result of all Of this
WIN IFS intent was war and war came
Tho evils may be easily summarized.
FIRST: Grievous burdens Of taxation
were imposed upon the peoples of the
competing countries. Their producing
capacity was seriously impaired by con.
suming three years of the best produc.
ing part OF the lives Of their young men.
second: Consciousness Of the power
OF such military establishment pro-
duced a turbulence and bullying ten.
dency on the part of Germany who
kept ahead in the race. The Kaiser
haunted to the world the dinloma tic
!r'umphs ne achieved by standing forth
m ms shining armor." His military
mach'ne and his knowledge of the de-
iects OF the Russian and French ma.
cn'nes led him to improve the occasion
ol the Austrian-Serbian difficulty to
seek war before the defects of his rivals
could be supplied. Thus the race ~ ar.
mament brought on this war.
Tnird: The growth o. these eno-,.,.
armaments under such conditions hav.
made this war the most destructye ~
s.s. Feopies and civilizations hava
oee" the OBJECTS Of attack, not ayn,ie.
'".'e's' ihe killing of non-combatant.
o.u men, women and children and th.
permanent devastation Of enemy CON-.
Try nave been features of the Co...
campaigns and all becaus. ~. -
,,aa preparations and the orsanjz,.
~ ~ ol suitable machinery naturally led
49, ."'s method Of winning lasting VIC
'o,y ana permanent conquest.
Inns succession of causes with tb. -.
.olt 's pound to reeur again unless ~.
sieat powers OF the world lead oil
Aone 10 suppress such dangerous co-,
peuuoh. The end is to be achieves -.
.aF as Germany. Austria and r,-,.s..
ae concerned by compulsory term. -.
Inc drastic provisions ~ th.
eA.y Just presented to the Ger,,..s
~. .Heir Signature leave no douht ~,
this point. ooo'e on
international Restraint
nut now as to the other natIons, How
uey oe restrained? No o,hor
method has been or can be s,,..o. .e.
oy an agreement such as is emhod
,.o IN the League. Why saou1d ~.
.eo ,. :. states not enter the agreement
49,; - oo,ected that by doing So this No.
-. - ueiesating to foreign bod,, =,
~" 80 mas only one representa,,,,a
me limiting of its power to defans :.
Sc, ser from foreign aggression and nos.' "
nle obstruction. 1t is said that W !, ,.,;..- .o;s-
NAKED to our enemies
me answer to the objection. :. On,
na complete First, the Counc;, ~, ~
o.na'atlns the plan, and 6xing ,;,,,,."
ee' m,o act unanimously. Therefors ,hs
r'a" am & eah not be adopted by the Coun
el without the consent Of tho ..'r: oun-
- sn nepresentative in that body Thi.
wa,,,s guaranty that the limits to be arss s
s" ~oulo Dc not unfair or unreasona HI. a 50
'ar as we are concerned eo
secondly. after the plan ha. h.., .o-
nulated and tho limits fixed each r .o.'
eminent must accept il hefer" s" :. gov
ADOPTED: Therefore. the GoveTnm.n. rs
.,e Inc United States through it's con..; VI
tutional agencies. the tr.ats S const'-
nuwer ana in this case the Conrrsss s y.