The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-07-31
TO RAnrY OR NOT TO RArrrl
Four Summarize. of Arguments on the
Question cf Ratification BY the Sen
ate Of the Treaty With Germany.
Including the League of Nations
Covenant.
For urre.er,ed R.tiheation

nrni, should be ratified without rcscr
yations Such ratification would es
tablish immediatcA peace, the world'i
most urgent need in the interest oi
order and progress, and would eonsti
tute the greatest step in histor,
towards the prevention OF war. Tn,
maintenance Of peace requires the i'm
mediate abolition Of many information
al injustices, prolific causes OF war
and the creation Of an agency for
rectifcation of remaining injustices
and for the establishment OF mutually
advantageous and just relations be-
tween nations. The treaty would Sc
cure these ends because it,
Wipes out the peace Of violence OF
Bucharest and Brest Litovsk which
throttled Rumania and Russia.
Restores Alsace Lorraine and rights
the fifty-year wrong against France.
Offers voluntary return Of the prov
inces stolen fifty-ive years since from
Denmark.
Frees Poland which was brutally
partitioned and enslaved for one hun
dred and twenty-five years.
Erects the independent state Of the
Czecho Slovaks who for three hundred
years have hcroically resisted tyran-
nical oppression.
Recognizes the reunited Serbs, Gro
ats, and Slovenes who because Of five
hundred and fifty years of servitude
have been Europe's oldest instance Of
the despotic policy Of divide and con-
quer.
Forecasts the freedom Of the SUBJ
jeet peoples Of Russia.
Establishes the practice Of self
determination in disputed territories
by plebiscites in Silesia, Schleswig,
the Pelgian-German border, and the
Saar Valley. The conditions specified
for the plebiscite in the Saar Valley
are such as to make its return to
Germany practically a foregone con-
cIusion.
Exacts adequate reparations for the
injuries inflicted on the nations at
tackled in the late war.
Protects racial, linguistic, and re-
ligious minorities in their cultural her
itages as against majorities.
Permits in the governing bodies of
the League representation of the dem
ocratic legislatures of the nations.
Adopts advanced and just interna-
tional standards OF labor
Provides for mutual freedom of
communication and of transit and for
the equitable treatment of commerce
among nations, including access to the
sea for land-locked states.
Assures, through mandatories, par
amount consideration for the we'll
being and development of all depend
ent peoples affected by the treaty, and
equal opportunities in trade and com
merce with these peoples for all MEM
bers of the League Of Nations, guar
anteed by the supervision of the
League itself.
Provides a promise and procedure
for reducing the increasingly intoler-
able burden of armaments.
Establishes an international organ
ization to remove remaining or future
injustices or causes Of war; such as
Japan's possession Of Shantung, pos
siblc violations of national and racial
unity in the present treaty, and the
exclusion Of nations from access to
vital raw materials in undeveloped
areas.
Prohibits all attacks, invasions, and
forcible annexations until three
months after a grievance has been IN
vestigated and failure TO reach
unanimous agreement on a settlement
has resulted.
Requires for the future an inquiry
public report, unanimous finding OF
menace 10 international peace, and re-
fusal of compliance before permitting
such a concerted blockade and invasion
of country at civil war as have oc-
Cured in the case of Russia. tArucle
X. XII, and XIV Of the Covenant.l
Leaves with Congress the sole pow
er TO authorize hostilities through the
use Of the armed forces Of the United
States, even after the League has
unanimously declared war against any
nation.
Promises the early admission TO the
League Of Germany and makes pos
sible the future admission of all
states.
Provides In the League OF Nations
Covenant an instrument governing
international relations which is adapt
able, elastic, and capable Of develop
men, and application 10 all exigcncies
desired TO be met by the organized