Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-11-24
Colby Professor
Delivers Fine Speech
To Legion Members

10 Legion Members
DR.. William ]. Wilkinson, profess
sor OF history at Colby college, was
the very interesting speaker at the
regular meeting of the George N.
Bourque Post Of the American Le-
gion last evening. DR.. Wilkinson.
taking for his subject, 1.-THE Danger
Spots of Europe" spoke in part as
follows:
Few phases in history have been
invested with more fallacy or irony
than that which was heard during
the world conflict when we were told
that 1t was war to end war. The
versailles treaty and the criminal
stupidity of statesmen during the
year Immediately following 1918 not
only failed to remove the evils which
produce war, but in some instances
aggravated those evils. 1t is quite
true that the negotiations at Locarno
will probably result in an era of
peace along the Rhine. But it is
along the Danube that trouble
threatens to break out.
While the Locarno treaty and
other hopeful events during the past
few weeks have ushered in a spirit
OF reconciliation throughout a large
part OF Europe, 1t Is not to be as
stunned that peace is entirely assured
There are, unfortunately, plenty OF
danger spots in Europe. During the
DEBATES In the British House of Com
mons on Wednesday, Nov. IS, atten-
ton was called to the very unsatis-
factory and unsettled condition of
affairs in Eastern Europe.
Mr. T,10yd Georro <bn 1ao1.~ 80 A. =
Liberal party, and Mr.. Ramsay Mac
Donald, the spokesman of the Labor
party, were willing to give Mr.
Chamberlain every credit for his
achievement at Locarno which prom
ises to liquidate the many differ
ences which have been the source OF
amnesty between France and Ger
many. But, as these two statesmen
pointed out, there are other enmities
which threaten the peace of Europe
Nothing has been done to pacify
the bitter feelings which are at work
among the nations of Eastern Eu-
rope. The Balkans are an earth
quake in that part of Europe, Mr.
Lloyd George declared in his House
OF Commons speech last week. 1t is
there, he asserted, that the crust is
thinner than elsewhere and an erup-
ton is to be feared in consequence
Ramsay Macdonald also remind
ed parliament of the fact that the
Locarno agreement had ignored the
perils which exist in that part OF
europe. He also dwelt on the sig
nlncant fact that Russia was ex-
cluded from all consideration al
Locarno and was outside of the
League. He warned his hearers
that Europe could not consider Its
troubles iquidated until a real Aun-
Outstanding and reconciliation had
been arrived at with the Russian
government. The problem had beer
aggravated, since Locarno seemed to
have been engineered for the pur-
pose OF uniting western civilization
against Russia A group Of League
OF Nations states, he declared, had
been formed in a bloc for the pur-
pose of isolating Russia. This, he
maintained, was likely to produce q
situation full of potential peril.
According to some observers thu
Dantzig Corridor is the most alarm
ing spot of Europe. It is maintained
by more than one authority that the
Paris Peace Conference brought into
existence a new Alsace-Lorraint
problem when they gave to POLAND
a slice oe territory which cuts Ger.
many in two. Mr.. Frederick Palm.
err in an article which appeared II
the November number of Harper.
magazine. entitled, Where the Mex
War Will Start" points to Dantzil
and it's corridor as the theater Of
certain outbreak unless an amicabls
and just settlement is arrived at
The deplorable settlement of the dis.
puted Silesian area intensif1es the
bitterness between Germany and Pc.
land. In the December number oil
the Forum, there appears an article
by the capable pen of Mr.. Robert
Dell entitled, 1.-THE Suicide of Pc.
land" The writer maintains thai
1T is impossible to guarantee the
security of the present Polish from.
tiers" He asserts that IL they are
not changed by peaceful means they
will sooner or later be changed b.
war in spite of all possible protocols
and pacts."
mot only has Poland greedily and
stupidity insisted upon the possession,
of territory which Germany will
never abandon. but she has also in.
cluded within her boundary line
large areas populated by Russians
Sooner or later Russia, like Ger.
, Illduy, Will ueHldIlu a TeChOnl1lS WITT
Poland and insist that Galicia Will
it's millions of Ukranians be united
with their kinsmen in the Ukraine
These and other dangers to this
cause of peace justified the fears OF
Mr.. Lloyd George and Ramsay Mac.
Donald in their examination of Eu.
ropean problems.
Where. then. is solution of the
many and varied problems which vez
Europe, to be found? The principal
hope of a satisfactory solution con-
sists In the creation Of a United
States of Europe, which, in an Geo.
nomic sense. at least. will function
in much the same way as does the
United States of America. 1t is n
hopeful sign that the leading states
men of Europe are directing their
earnest efforts to such consumma-
ton"
Following the address there was a
short business meeting and then re-
froc Il m ants ryoro oorvod Tho ynaot-