The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-10-19
BY JAMES NJ. COX
Former Governor Of Ohio

The makers Of tho Treaty Of Yer
sailles did not regard 1t as a perfect
instrument. 1t was impossible to do
some Of the things at the time which, in
the interest Of q permanent peace were
deemed essential The average critic of
the treaty is so blinded by partisanship
that he gives no thought to the many
difficulties that surrounded the confer
once.
Certainly no one believed it possible
that America would abandon the labors
Of rcadjustment. The moral responsibility
was quite as binding as it was during the
war. II civilization was imperiled by
military autocracy, the destruction of
the menacing institution was but the
first part of the world task
America struck the determining blow
at the crucial hour in the war and aft
erward abandoned not only the victors
Jut the vanquished as well.
Half the troubles attendant upon the
present European situation have come
from the overhanging bitterness of the
uast. II was America that spoke the
terms upon which arms were laid down.
She not only rendered a great service to
mankind when she did it, but she as
sumed the moral obligation to see that
the faith was kept.
To one who wants to reflect upon the
racts. it is apparent that the peace treaty
". = hut preliminary to a program Of in
L., national justice. Unquestionably the
rutential figures at the peace table re-
sarded the pact as only a beginning
! recognizing that it was necessary to
create at the earliest possible moment
working hase
reace Treaty Held
Mere preliminary Step.
General SHUTS, the South African
st',tesm@n. stated at the time, IT have
signed the treaty not because l constdr
b. . satisfactory docur'r., nu
70 is inperatively necessary to close the
a.. Nothing e ala 10 m
than the continuance Of this state OF
.uspcnsa The months since the
armlstcc was signed have, perhaps been
as upset. unsettled and runous to Eu-
rope ~ The previous lr yr Of var.
Il do not wish TO find fault with the
work done. I feel that i'll the treaty we
have not yet achieved the real peace to
which our peoples were looking Inc
real work Of making peace will only be-
gin after this treaty has been signed ana
n definite halt has thereby been called
on tho destructive passions that have
been desolating Europe for nearly I'VE
years.
which will need revision; there are guar
antees laid down which We all hope will
soon he found out of harmony with the
new peaceful temper and unarmed state
of our former enemies. There are IN
IDENTITIES stipulated which cannot be eX-
acted without great injury to the indus
trial revival Of Europe and which it VIII
lie in the interest of all TO render more
tolerable and moderate.
In this treaty, however, two achieve
mcnts Of far-reaching importance for the
world are definitely recorded: The one
is the destruction of Prussian militar-
isn. the other is the institution Of the
League Of Nations.
81 am confident that the league will
vet prove a path of escape for Europe out
Of the ruin brought about by this war.
The enemy peoples ought at the
earliest possible date join the league ana
i'm collaboration with the allied peoples
learn 10 practice the great lesson OF TINS
war--that not in separate ambitions or
I'm selfish domination but in common ser
vice for the great human causes lies the
true path Of national progress.
Unless the victors Can effectively
extend a helping hand to the defeated
and broken peoples. u large part Of
I3urope IS threatened with exhaustion
and decay"
SelFIshness Dominated
Peace Delegates.
II is we'll to recall some Of The things
TINT made trouble. 1t is recognized IN
I,,lropc now that a mistake was made
whom Paris was selected for the peace
conference. This was tribute to the
French soldiers and the French people, !
both Of whom in the face Of almost un-
endurable hardships had survived the
invasion Of their soil. 1t was the very
center Of war excitement.
A part Of the Paris press behaved bad
~ Conflicting national claims that
were under discussion were exploited
by paid advertisements. There WAS
ceaseless propaganda going on.
England has just held an election.
Tho coalition forces Of Lloyd George had
won the day on the slogan that carried
the sentiment of war bitterness Terri
tories given UP by the vanquished coun-
tries were regarded as spoils OF war;
and there werc many evidences OF ma
tional greed.
France wanted Nsace Lorraine and
tho Saar Valley, the left bank of the
Rhine. SYRIA and part OF CameroonS. |
England wanted Mesopotamia, German
last Africa. southwest Africa and some !
Of the South Pacific islands and possibly |
Palestine. Italy wanted the Trentino |
and Trieste, the Tyrol. Dalmatla, Fiume !!
parts of Albania and a foothold at /,
Adalia Japan wanted Shantung and |
some northern Pacific islands.
Greece wanted extensions in Epirus !
and Macedonia, the return OF the Eode- |
canese and considerable holdings around |
smyrna Belgium wanted parts Of Ger