Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-01-30
French Occupation
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TICllCIl OCCUpd ClOll
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debts, one to her cople, to rebuild
and restore the country. the other
the war debt which she contracted
during the war. All she wanted at
the time the peace terms were -made
was sufficient to enable her to regain
her lost strength. but England add
ed to this, making the amount more
than France had wanted.
Withal, however Germany had
never intended to pay the indeh-
nifty, and every time the day came
to pay, they had whined and paid
with extreme reluctance. Finally
had come the time that she had
failed in her agreements. both with
regard to lumber and coal, and she
had then announced that she would
not pay the money. France had
taken steps. the right of which had
been guaranteed her in the treaty,
and had entered the Ruhr district,
under the advice of one of the great
est lawyers and statesmen of their
nation.
Mr. Sewell predicted that when
things broke, as they will sooner or
later, they will break in favor of
France and against Germany.
He said that influences are at work
in this country at the present time,
many of them pacific. which are pro-
German. because they see in this new
development. g militaristic move
ment by France. AS a matter of
fact. the French are simply protect
ing their interests against a state
which does not believe in keeping lis
promises, which at the present time,
has an army all drilled. lacking
arms, and that even these arms are
being hidden away there for future
use. He quoted Mr.. Hazard of Gar
diner who has been in Germany
since the signing of the peace treaty.
as saving that the Germans were
Boosting that they had won the war
and that they were really as black at
heart as ever. =.
Told Of Conference -
He told of many of the scenes OF
the conference. and said that the big
dramatic scene of the whole confer
ence was when Hughes laid all of his
cards on the table and told the as
somblage of representative Of ma
tiOns Just what the United States
was prepared to do in the matter of
disarmament.
He spoke of the fact that while
some people in the country felt that
the conference had done too much in
the way of disarmament. the larger
part 81 the people were war weary
even before the conference began
and they wanted it to do even more.
But within the conference itself, there
hung the spectre of another war,
and the delegates while desiring to
get to n settlement did not dare TO
cut their own armament too far. and
thus leave their country without
adequate protection.
The United States. which IN al
ways most generous. was even more
generous in the matter of disarma-
ment than the other nations. With
regard to tho naval program; he
stated if the United States had con-
tinued with its program of building
and had maintained the ships that it
built. in n dozen years it would have
taken the place of Britain as the
mistress of the seas, and he said
that he wondered if America in such
position would not have been as
great n force for disarmament as she
is now with the other policy.
The naval program as agreed by
the other nations simply limits the
number of battle cruisers and Of air.
plane carriers. all the others being
unrestricted. The conference almost
came to grief on the matter of SUBJ
marines. Great Britain wanted sub
marines abolished. probably because
of the effects of Germanys submar-
inc blockade during the World War.
France on the other hand said that
she wanted them to protect her In
dian possessions and those on the
Mediterranean. The smaller cost OF
the submarines is one argument in
favor of them as such a country as
Holland. which cannot he accused
of being milataristic. desired to pro-
tect her Indian possessions. but cam
not afford larger ships, while she
feels secure with submarines.
Compared Their Navies ....
He then spoke of the manner in
which after this equalization of
.navies, the various countries went
about maintaining their navies.
England and Japan. improved theirs,
England fixing up her ships so that
they are right up to date, while in
America influence has been brought
to bear so that. the navy is not
maintained the personnelNis getting
too small to he efficient and this in
nuence has been extended even to
our army which is not anywhere near
the necessary size. He stated that
1T was his belief that the naval APP
preparation bill which the Secretary
of the Navy has approved will not
be passed, because the members OF
Congress, while knowing that IL is
right. believe that their constituents
are against it, and instead of going
to the people and showing them why
1t should be passed, they take the
easiest course.
But he pointed out that these
pacifists. many of them well-meaning
people, who, If they only knew it,
were being Influenced by Bolshe-
visits. radicals. and I. w. WIS, are
the first to ask that our navy be
sent to Turkey to protect American
lives and property. They are try
ing to have that splendid institution.
the training camp at flattsburg,
abolished, and as this has not been
done. they are now turning their af-
forts to influencing parents to for
bid their sons from attending. He
predicted that before the camn
opened this year, this sort Of pro-
paganda would be used right in this
city.
This talk followed q fine supper
which was served to the members
or the club in the dining room Of
IN, parish house, and at the con-
clusion of the talk, Mr.. Sewell res
Ceived aDD1aOaA that ~v,~,,.x>A Il