The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-01-15
CURRENT COMMENT
The Allies Answer.

1t is ample answer that the entente
allies have given to President Wilson's
inquiry regarding their aims in war and
their terms of peace. While the great
err part of it is but recapitulation OF
the main objects and conditions which
were well within public knowledge, there
are these definite and important addi-
tons: the alterations of Italians, of
Slavs, of Roumanians and of Slovaks
| from foreign mination-meaning that
Of Austria Hungary; and the expul-
sion of Turkish government from Eu-
rope. Still more important, perhaps, is
the distinct statement that besides "the
restoration of Belgium, OF Serbia and
of Montenegro" there must be payment
of "the indemnities which are due them"
There is nothing in the note to show
that the great powers of the entente al
lance seek any material gain for them
selves, either financial or territorial.
Belgium, Serbia, Montenegro and the
lands of Italians, Slays, Roumanians and
Slovaks are to be restored to their own
peoples; and it is to the established
kingdoms Of Belgium, Serbia and Monte
negro that the indemnities are to be
paid.
The very name of "indemnities" now
formally introduced by the allies will
send a SILVER of dismay through the
central empires. 1t was Germany that
spoke first of indemnities. The war was
not then very old, the great British
army of to-day was not in existence, the
German artillery was proving its superb
ority in Russia as it had done in Bel
GUM and Farnce, and the war lord and
his government were doubtless sincere
in telling the German people that they
might with perfect security subscribe
to war loans because these would be
repaid by indemnities exacted from the
enemy. This was one of the methods
of nourishing the notion that Germany
was fighting in self-defence and would be
in position to command golden salve
for her wounds.
But the German government miscalcu-
la ted. 1t is not the France of 1870, nor
the Russia Of 1904, nor the British of
1914 that Germany and her auxiliaries
have to reckon with now. The entente
alliance has developed such strength that
the German hope of being able to i'm |
pose indemnities has been extinguished. |
For considerable time the word Sin |
iemnity" has not been heard from Off
sial lips in Germany. Now the people |
will be startlingly reminded of tit |
70 the American president-and will
hey are allowed to read the allies note
surely begin to understand that they |
nay see as little of an ultimate Ger
nan triumph as they saw of the swift
ind sweeping victory which was prom
sed them at the crossing of the Belgian
rontier.
If the allies win and indemnities are
how is the impoverished en-
,ire to payG That question was not
Lsked of France when Germany won.
Amiens and other French cities have not
ret completed repayment of the loans
hey had to contract for indemnities
o Germany. Now the German cities are
threatened with similar experience
which, however, will be milder than the
resent German methods of exaction in
Belgium. Serbia, Montenegro and Po-
and The threat viii probably make
he German emperor fight all the more
for time. His saddling of
he country with an indemnity might
lmost make him doubt his right divine
0 reign.-Boston Herald.