The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-12-30
UNCLE TED's BEDTIME STORIES


themselves in 'front.' OF the IRE Tor tnf
evenings story sHave the members
been doing anything to bring peace in
10 the world. as lots Of people said
they would Just as soon as they had
a meeting and laid their plans ?"
mo, they have not" relpied Uncle
Ted. IL am glad you have spoken Of
&c World Club, because the first meet
ing has just come TO an end a,
Geneva, Switzerland. The me,nbers
met on November 18th and elected one
Of the Belgian delegates as presiding
officer Then the discussions began
and such time as they have had OF
III Almost everyone who spoke found
some fault with the covenant, which
they were all sworn TO obey, and
either urged some change in 1t to suit
the special interests Of his country
or else refuse to be longer bound by
it's terms. am Just going TO review
briefly what happened at the meeting
as il proves the wisdom Of our own
Republican Senator's who said that the
world peace club was really a world
war club, and predicted that the MEM
bers never could act together when il
meant the surrender of any selfish in
terest.
"The meeting had been in session
only three days when IL was voted to
organize a World Club Army, COM
posed Of soldiers from England,
France, Belgium, and Spain, and send
il to place called wilma in the midst
OF the bloody uprisings in Russia to
keep order while the people of the city
voted as to whether they should be-
come citizens Of Lithuania or Of Pol
and How would we like to have our
soldier boys sent on such an errand,
and yet that is the very first thing
they would have been ordered to do
had the United States joined the
World Club.
"The next day, November 10th,
there was more trouble. A long note
was received from Germany protest
ing against the way the more powerful
members of the Club, like England
and France, have been using the
former German colonies for their own
benefit. Under the World Club plan
those colonies were to be protected by
the countries given charge Of them,
and the natives taught to use and en-
JOY what they produced, the way
people do in civilized nations But
Great Britain, in particular, has
sought TO make herself rich at the
expense Of those new territories. The
other members Of the World Club saw
the justice Of te German complaint,
and tried to review he action by
which most Of the colonies had been
given TO England, France, and Japan
But those three countries refused 20
permit the forty or more other mem
bora to have anything to say about it,
and one Of the most serious disputes Of
he whole meeting resulted; in fact,
almost the last things that were said
were some hot words passed between
he English delegates and the repre-
,entatives from some Of the smaller
nations.
"One Of the features Of the World |
Club plan called upon all members to |
top raising armies and building bat
leships, yet one Of the Belgian dele
: 'tes, who is a pacifist, said that he
I'D not believe in such a policy, and
Urged that the World Club appoint .
general staff Of military men to study
he best ways to wage war. He said
lie was convinced the World Club
would have to compel obedience to its
commands by force Of arms. Which.
4 course. is exactly what Republican
predicted would be the case.
Some Of the members Of the World
Tub did not take part in the Great
Var, but they did sign the club plan
which, in effect, provides that all mem
'ers shall assist in enforcing the
reaty by which the war ended. Those
eutral members protest against TAX
ng part in that enforcement, but Of
curse they have signed the plan and
heir complaints are too late. All they
an do now is to grumble and obey the
riders Of the other members"
Didn't the meeting do anything ex-
apt quarrel" anxiously inquired
.uth Il should think that At least
ne man in a peace meeting Of that
ind would have tried 70 smile and
lake people feel happy" r
Z should think so, too" agreed
ME Ted. ''but 50 fer as ! have been
bic to learn, every day brought up
,metainR new % kindle the anger Of
he delegates and make even more re-
iote the chance Il doing anything
" world peace. For instance, the {
az after the last incident Of which ! ,
poke. one OF the club committees re-
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