Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-10-01
Italian Premier
on Problems Before
European. Countries

European countries
Naples. Sept. 21-(By the -Asso-
ciated Press) - Former Premier
francesca Nitti. who is sojourning
here. in the course of a statement
today went over some of the prob
lens which are perplexing Europe
and America.
mo tn eeve of the Presidential
struggle in the United States" he
said, st is we'll that the European
situation be thoroughly considered
in America. Europe cannot quickly
regain it's feet without the help of
the United States. but the United
States might help only those coun-
tries whose policy is peace. The
American democracy has a grea!
task before it. I ann. sincere
friend of America, but I cannot
truthfully say I believe that the &C
tons of her leaders have been use
full to the world.
NO man ha dmore humanitarian
ideas than President Wilson. But
he was not sufficiently acquainted
with Europe, and thus the treaties
concluded have no great moral
worth. They contain the germs of
deep hatreds and perhaps new wars.
they wished. exert a beneficial in
luence. This is not only their NOR
al dutyb ut it is also in their interest
to do so.
II do not know IL theer is peace
anywhere in the world, but there
certainly is none in Europe. Around
you. you see nothing but armies.
people said this would be the last
war. but Germany's militarist spirit
has been acquitted by the peoples
who overthrow Germany. Europe is
alives with proposals Of conquest,
with eagerness to hoard raw ma
terials.
We always declared we were not
waging war against the German peo-
pie, but against German militarism
and still, now that the German en-
pire has fallen and now that militar-
list Germany is wrecked, we have not
changed our attitude. Germany to-
day is in an intolerable position. still
undergoes all sorts of odious inves-
legations and is submitting to all
sorts of humiliations. Germany has
no ships, has not sufficient raw ma
terials and has no colonies, while
the exchange rate is SO unfavorable
she cannot buy abroad. Germany,
while suffering hunger. is condemned
to pay an indeterminate indemnity
for an indeterminate number of
years.
1t is true the victory conferS
certain rights, but it imposes also GER
tain duties. Nobody more than myself.
who am a firm believer in democracy
and peace. hated German Imperialism.
Is the American democracy really
pleas ed with the turn events have
taken? All Europe, with it's large
population. was the great market for
the exchange of goods Germany was
the greatest European center of pro-
duction.
Now, al this is upset and smashed.
The world never again will have the
former low prices without Germany.s
fruitful work We hated German
militarisr, but admire ner indus
triousness and perseverance, which has
given her first place among the
worlds producing nations. why should
we do without Germany's work and
how can one expect Germany TO pay
any indemnity in the present state
Of affairs: Ny words often have been
u q inn ~ q lic$
press. but SO long as I have single
breath left l shall not passively as
sist in the waste of so much energy.
Can we expect permanently to control
Germany in the way We are doing
now?
Regarding Russia. I think our pol
icy has been all wrong. The Entent =
must make up it's mind 10 look upon
Russia, not an an enemy. but as a
fallen friend who has overtaxed his
strength waging war on our behalf
and has succumbed. Russia now is
communist, but it's economic system
is absurd and bound to fail. Every
one who has been to Russia has re-
turned Mortified. 1t is a regime Of
absolutism and violence which gives
rise to great poverty and imrossibiiity
of production.
"Bolshevik Russia soon will fall.
but with what right do we talk Of
the Immortality of the present Russian
government when for SO many years
we have admired the government of
the Car. which added tyranny to vio-
lence? When the communist govern
ment has drained the cup Of misery
to the dregs it will fall. or rather be
transformed into democracy with
marked traces of agrarian socialism.
The Entente now is following the
policy likeliest to induce people to
sympathize with Russia by sending
arms to the generals fighting against
the communists and refusing to rec
ognize the Moscow government. To
take up relations with Russia again
we ought to ask only one condition
fundamental in all civil relations
namely, guarantees that the Soviet
government will not meddie with the
internal politics of other countries.
Instead. forgetting Russia is an au-
tonomus state, In exchange for recog-
milton we dared ask for guarantees
that Russia would pay the debts con-