Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1922-12-21

them and the breaking of faith with
them during the war.
Those nations are now in Mesopo-
tamia holding it by force of arms, and
in Syria, holding 1t my force OF arms.
j have upon my table here the last
dispatch from Syria, showing that
they are manifesting in most earnest
fashion their dsapproval OF the man
date and their contention for their in
dependence. They are not only hold
ing them in subjecti0n by a military
force, but they are exploiting their
natural resources, which they have no
more right to take from these people
than l would have to reach into your
pocket and take your means from you.
Those natural resources belong to
those people; they are associated with
their future prosperity and their fu-
ture welfare; yet, under the color Of
mandate and under the color Of
protection, their natural resources are
now being taken from them. That
is one Of the reasons why this de-
plorable condition exists in the Near
East, concerning which M. Clemen-
ceau feels some concern. These are
the policies which we are invited to
go to Europe and enforce.
Just word with reference to the
Versailles treaty. The conditions in
Europe are indeed indescribable. The
'sufferings upon that continent are un-
doubtedly greater than have been ell
dured by any people in the history Of
] nrIJ IN, 10 h,,I In
Germany, Austria, Hungary, and thru
out that region generally. The whole
social and economic fabrics of Europe
are imperiled. What the future has in
store is q mere matter OF speculation.
1t seems, however, that unless there
Is change of policy that speculation
will come suddenly to an actually.
A great many distinguished Ameri-
cans of all kinds of thought, all classes
you may say, have visited Europe
within the last three years and have
studied the situation. and while, o.
course, | can not be entirely accur-
ate about it, can not recall now any
one who has studied the conditions In
Europe, and undertaken to arrive at
conclusion as to the cause OF these
conditions, who has not attributed
them to the impossible terms Of the
Versallis treaty. There seems to be
practically a unanimous agreement.
One Of the latest expressions upon
the subject was by very distinguish
ed banker in New York, who gave an
interview after his return some time
asst August, in which he said:
H. At. av,I VII
i've settlement was ever inflicted up
on the world, from the point of view
alike of friend and foe, than the So
called peace treaties with Germany,
Austria Hungary, and Bulgaria.
Again he said:
| have not met a man Of liberal
thought in Europe who does not de-
nounce the treaties and look upon
them as little short of calamity.
Yet, so far as we can gather from
the speech and the discussions of our
visitor, what we are expected to do is
to insure the enforcement Of those de-
structive treaties.
Mr.. President, it seems quite clear
that, so long as they obtain. so long
as the Versailles treaty is the funda-
mental law of Europe, just that long
there will be misery, unrest, conflict,
and bloodshed; and not only would the
United States be justified in refusing
to have any part in il, but in my hum.
BILE opinion it Is one Of those things
so far-reaching and so thoroughly in
volying the welfare Of the. whole
human family that we are perfectly
justified in discussing it in the most
candid manner. Especially must such
be true in view of our invitation to
return to Europe.
Mr.. President, to me the most dis
couraging feature of the able visitors
speech is the fact that he is one of the
great and dominant figures ;of the
world-perhaps there are not over
three or four men in the whole civil
lied world now living who would rank
with him in career and in fame, not
only before his own people but before
the people of the worldwide comes
to us to visit us four years after the
signing Of the armistice. He carries
no message, when We analzye his
speech, except that Of punishment, Of
vengeance, of anticipated war There
is not a note Of harmony toward the
other powers of Europe, not a sugges,
! tion of a constructive policy, not a