Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-03-27
TaIkino Over the II Peiats.

Talking Over the u Peipts.
We are to understand that peace
is being made on the basis of the
Presidents II points, are we not:
Yes, We are -not.'
Why no."
"Eead them and sec for yourself.
What is No. -
open covenants Of peace, openly ar
rived at
gu know that the secrecy of the
conference sessions is a matter Of in
,rlnc.pc was disregarded from the
first meeting. No. 90
Absolute freedom Of navigation
Nron the seas.
The President himself says this is
enc GOOD joke on him and lots it go
At that. No. S.
al economic barriers and tine establish
;ncnt OF an equality Of trade cond'-
tiors.
so far as the economics Of the
conference have been divulged they
permit the reopening of trade with
Germany in exchange for food
products. On the great problems OF
other nations touching raw materials.
production, transportation and ex-
change the conference is silent. No.
~"
Adequate guarantees given and
taken that national ornaments VIII be
reduced to the lowest point consistent
with domestic safety.
The proposal Of MIR. Lloyd-Georse
relating to the disarmament OF Ger
many has been adopted and looks
toward the disarmament Of other
nations, but the question of JUS; what
is the lowest point consistent with
domestic safety is a loophole for
never ending arguments and varying
opinions. No. 81"
"A free, open minded and absolutely
impartial adjustment of all colon a.
claims based upon strict observance
Of the principle that in determining
SUCH questions Of sovereignty the inter
ests OF the populations concerned must
have equal weight with the equitable
Claims Of the government whose tile IS
TO be determined
"'ColoAial claims means the
claims OF various nations on Ger
n1any's pre-war foreign possessions.
The various nations have said what
they had to say about these colonies.
hut have YOU heard of plebiscte
heiEg taken in East Africa or the
Caroline Islands or kiao-Chau" vi
course you haven't. and Of course
such proceeding would be absurd,
hut how else could the populations
concerned express themselves on
their interests The natives of the
places may know they don't want
any more German rule, but how do
they know whether they would pre-
fer to be governed by British, French
or CIecho- Slovaks" Absurd as this
so-calied principle is. i, is in the Il
points. but it has not been taken into
account and will not be. Point No
81"
The evacuation Of all Russian terri
tory, and such settlement of all Ques-
tons affecting Russia AS will secure
the best and freest cooperation of the
other nations of the world In obtaining
fer her an unhampered and unembar-
raised opportunity for the independent
determination OF her own political de-
,~I~
sure her of sincere welcome into the
society OF free nations under the institu-
ions Of her own choosing.
who was to evacuate Russia
Was it the German agents, Lenine
and Trotzsky. with their unspeakable
policy and their wrecking of all that
promised hope for that sorely tried
nation? Was it the brave Czecho.
SIovaks who have been holding GU,
in the vain hope OF allied aid and
comfort, and keeping up what little
semplance of law and order there has
bees? Or was il the little squads OF
French, British and American troops
who have been freezing and fighting
IA The swamps OF Archangel! Who.
ever II was. the evacuatins has moi
been done nor has anything else, ex.
eept the further bunsling of the
whole muddle by the Infamous pro
posal of the Princes Islands confer.
ence. While the peace conference
has not said in SO many words tina
Il has no, brains enough to deal Will
Eussia, it has admitted it tacitly. ant
j, has dared to say that it canno
row be bothered with Russia. Wa:
anything ever more horrible: I'll.
whole II points has been repudiatet
in this one-but what is the 7th:''
Belgium. the whole world viii
agree, must be evacuated and restored
without any attempt to limit the SOW
, ss,isn n;t, which , she enjoy: in copmor
Belgium was evacuated by tn,
Germans at the urgent and steel
pointed instance Of Marshal Foch ant
his armies. and as a nation has beer
restored to King Albert's govern.
ment. But II restored does no
mean material restoration as we'll, il
means nothing, for Belgium at pres
ent is psralyzed and broken and un.
able to resume normal life unless II
receives renar4tfon for the ia m ues