The Inside Story of the Peace Conference Part 30

Some of Mr. Wilson's fellow-countrymen who gave him their whole-hearted support when he undertook to establish a regime of right and justice sum up the result of his labors in Paris as follows:[379]

"His solemn warning against special alliances emerged as a special alliance with Britain and France. His repeated condemnations of secret treaties emerges as a recognition that 'they could not honorably be brushed aside,' even though they conflicted with equally binding public engagements entered into after they had been written. Openly arrived at covenants were not openly arrived at. The removal, so far as possible, of all economic barriers was applied to German barriers, and accompanied by the blockade of a people with whom we have never been at war. The adequate guaranties to be given and taken as respects armaments were taken from Germany and given to no one. The 'unhampered and unembarra.s.sed opportunity for the independent determination of her own political development' promised to Russia, and defined as the 'acid test,' has been worked out by Mr. Wilson and others to a point where so cautious a man as Mr. Asquith says he regards it with 'bewilderment and apprehension.' The righting of the wrong done in 1871 emerges as a concealed annexation of the boundary of 1814. The 'clearly recognizable lines of nationality' which Italy was to obtain has been wheedled into annexations which have moved Viscount Bryce to denounce them. 'The freest opportunity of autonomous development' promised the peoples of Austria-Hungary failed to define the Austrians as peoples...."

Whatever the tests one applies to the work of the Conference--ethical, social, or political--they reveal it as a factor eminently calculated to sap high interests, to weaken the moral nerve of the present generation, to fan the flames of national and racial hatred, to dig an abyss between the cla.s.ses and the ma.s.ses, and to throw open the sluice-gates to the inrush of the waves of anarchist internationalities. Truth, justice, equity, and liberty have been twisted and pressed into the service of economico-political boards. In the United States the people who prided themselves on their aloofness are already fighting over European interests. In Europe every nation's hand is raised against its neighbors, and every people's hand against its ruling cla.s.s. Every government is making its policy subservient to the needs of the future war which is universally looked upon as an unavoidable outcome of the Versailles peace. Imperialism and militarism are striking roots in soil where they were hitherto unknown. In a word, Prussianism, instead of being destroyed, has been openly adopted by its ostensible enemies, and the huge sacrifices offered up by the heroic armies of the foremost nations are being misused to give one half of the world just cause to rise up against the other half.

THE END

FOOTNOTES:

[339] A contemporary of Goethe. His works were republished by Herzog in the year 1907.

[340] _The Daily Telegraph_, January 28, 1919.

[341] _The Daily Telegraph_, January 31, 1919.

[342] _The Daily Mail_ (Paris edition), February 13, 1919.

[343] State-Secretary Hay addressed a note to the Powers in September, 1899, setting forth America's att.i.tude toward China. It is known as the doctrine of the "open door." In a subsequent note (July 3, 1900) he enlarged its scope and promulgated the integrity of China. But Russia ignored it and flew her flag over the Chinese customs in Newchw.a.n.g. It was j.a.pan who, on that occasion, a.s.serted and enforced the doctrine without outside help.

[344] General March intimated, when testifying before the House Military Committee, that President Wilson approved of universal training, indorsing the War Department's army program.--_New York Herald_ (Paris edition).

[345] _Bulletin des Droits de l'Homme_, No. 10, May 15, 1919.

[346] _Journal Officiel_, November 21, 1917.

[347] _Le Populaire_, February 10, 1919.

[348] _La Stampa_, June 11, 1919. Cf. _L'Humanite,_ June 13, 1919.

[349] Cf. _The Chicago Tribune_ (Paris edition), August 27, 1919.

[350] In _The Daily Telegraph_, February 8, 1919.

[351] The Covenant leaves the mode of recruiting them undetermined.

[352] Article IV.

[353] Article VIII.

[354] M. d'Estournelles de Constant, _Bulletin des Droits de l'Homme_, May 15, 1919, p. 450.

[355] _Ibid._

[356] _Ibid._, p. 457.

[357] Article XII.

[358] Cf. _The New York Herald_ (Paris edition), September 14, 1919.

[359] _L'Echo de Paris_, February 17, 1919.

[360] On April 11, 1919.

[361] The wording of the final j.a.panese amendment was: "By the endors.e.m.e.nt of the principle of equality of nations and just treatment of their nationals."

[362] On April 28, 1919.

[363] The Jewish coalition in Vilna inscribed on its program the union of Vilna with Russia.... There was an overwhelming majority in favor of its retention by Poland.--_Le Temps_, September 14, 1919. The election took place on September 7th.

[364] On Sat.u.r.day, May 31, 1919.

[365] I published several series of articles in _The Daily Telegraph_, _The Fortnightly Review_, and other English as well as American periodicals, and a long chapter in my book ent.i.tled _Russian Characteristics_.

[366] "Poland agrees that any member of the Council of the League of Nations shall have the right to bring to the attention of the Council any infraction, or _any danger of infraction_, of any of these obligations, and that the Council may thereupon take such action and give such direction as it may deem proper and effective in the circ.u.mstances."--Article XII of the Special Treaty with Poland.

[367] Cf. _La Gazette de Lausanne_, April 24, 1919.

[368] Article XI of the Special Treaty, _L'Etoile Belge_, August 17, 1919.

[369] _Le Journal des Debats_, July 7, 1919.

[370] M. Emile Combes was the author of the laws which banished religious congregations from France.

[371] _Le Figaro_, August 21, 1919. _L'Echo de Paris_, August 22, 1919.

[372] _The Morning Post_, July 21, 1919.

[373] _L'Echo de Paris_, April 29, 1919.

[374] _Ibid._, April 14, 1919.

[375] _The Chicago Tribune_ (Paris edition), September 17, 1919.

[376] _The New Republic_, August 6, 1919.

[377] Mr. James B. Beck.

[378] _The North American Review_, June, 1919.

[379] Cf. _The New Republic_, August 6, 1919, pp. 5, 6.