VICTORIA UNIVERSITY DEBATING CLUB

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 229, 22 June 1920, Page 5

VICTORIA UNIVERSITY DEBATING CLUB

A motion "That the Peace Treaty should be substantially revjsed in accordance with President Wilson's fourteen noints and the professed war aims of tho Allies" was the subject of a debate at Viotoria College on Saturday evening. The mover, Mr. W. A. Sheat. contended that the Allies had failed to roalißo their aim to.eradioato war. It had been agreed that President 'Wilson's fourteen noints should form tho ground-work of the Treaty, but i.t tob obvious that this baßia had disappeared. The peace terms were based on the old diplomacy, and were saturated with aggressive imperialism. As a matter of honour by reason of tho impossibility of the Treaty and because any attempt to enforce it would create still greater problems, it was urgently necessary to effect an immediate revision.

Mr. SutherlasA supporting tho motion, declared that to those who saw in the war a moral conflict, a conflict of ideate, the Treaty had come as a great disappointment, as - a great international tragedy. The spirit responsible for Its creation was not the spirit that made for peace. A war that had been waged in defence of the Banctity of treaties had ended in a definite break of the'most sacred engagement.

Mr. Stevenson, In opposing; the motion, contended tiai. a peace based on President Wilson's fourteen points would have been infinitely worse than the present one. President Wilson had attempted to Americanise tho world—his real aim differed from his expressed aim. Amerioa's system was bad, and no good would have resulted had tho effort been successful. The President's peace policy was also an attempt to apply the Monroe Doctrine to the settlement and the application of this doctrine of treaties with nations such aB Germany would be fatal in its conseauences. Amerioa's sacrifices in the war as compared with those of the other nations did not justify' any domination on her part. The opposor vaß seconded by Mr. Halgh, who expressed the opinion that there was a great deal of ambiguity in the fourteen points and in the President's addresses. The idea of a war to ond war was nothing more than an ideal, and was impossible of realisation. The Allies had to be just before they were generous. A number of students took part In the discussion which followed. The chairman (Mr. 0. Ooopcr) declared the motion carried.

Mr. H. H. Cortiish, M.A., LL.B., who judged the debate, placed the first five sneakers in the following order:—Mr. Sheat, Mr. Cousins, Mr, Southerlaud and Mr. Wiren of eciual merit, and Mr. Davidson.