Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-08
BY FRANK H. sIAIONDs.

lens of the forthcoming peace con-
ference at Versailles.
In the present article l intend to
deal with the important question of
the view of the various European
peoples. still our associates against
Germany. as it AFFECTS and will here
after affect our influence at Versailles.
Such observations as 1 here make are
based upon the comment of my French
and English friends and the reading
of the various foreign journals which
come to this country.
In the beginning it must be said that
there is singular unanimity abroad in
recognizing tine plain fact that with
out America Germany could not have
been beaten.
Europe. then. and particularly our
Rritish and French allies, feels toward
this country Il gratitude which is
spread over the whole population, and
is nowhere more genuine and intense
than among the poorer classes. whose
Immediate Sufferings We're greatest
and whose gain through peace is
swifteSt in arriving. This is the foun-
dation Of the influence which we have
today in Europe and the basis of the
cppSdI Jul NolCC w III nave Ill COIlSI-
<nce.
German s'People' Included.
But along with gratitude, which
would express itself in prompt COM
pliance with any request of ours made
in our own interest. made for the safe
guarding of any policy of ours, there
is an unmistakable apprehension born
of the suspicion that our great influ-
encc may be exerted to procure things
Of little real value to us and carrying
future menace to our associates. For
example. it is customary in America
TO say that we make war. not upon
the German people. but upon their
rulers. We have always in certain
official quarters made a clear distinc-
ton between the masses of the Ger
man people and their rulers. But no
such distinction exists in the minds of
the French people, and it has practi-
cally disappeared from British minds.
The Frenchman does not see. in his
ruined villages. his ravaGed fields, his
murdered and dishonored women, an
evidence of the exclusive spirit of the
PruSsian CIR OF the official caste. What
has been done is. to his mind a pc
culiarly and Characteristic German
thing He reasons. without exception.
that the excuses and crimes which
have been committed on his territory
and against his brethren have been
the lasting expression in deed of what
the German is. not the high-born Ger
man. not the prince or the baron, but
the German of all classes. And in this
view the Frenchman, fortifies the evil
dcnce OF present experiences with
those of the past. for the GERMAN has
come into France many times since
the days of Caesar. and the Latin de-
md ion -
most identical with these of the Bricc
For the Ercncbma, tbereeor, .,e-,
IS the rcaliza ton Of what the GER
man IS: what he has always been.
vrars h,,+ iIy.. ,nt d> ,,, oil recent
history. AMI in tho Frenchn,an's mind
The German will not change easily
probably never. In any event, a new.
form OF government will not trans
form millions OF men who yesterday
ana Tor years past conducted them
selves in the spirit of barbarism on
french SOIL.
W men peace docs come France will
sun hnd herseif with an open from
Ter toward the Germans. 1t will be
'etter 1Iohtief easier to defend, in
Tiualns 1.3eo.o0o people of Alsace
i.orraine who desire to be French, but
II VIII be u frontier marching with
the German lands.
Era,a,s-s iiteh l Aitu etiioHS
rieneuiheH Is not one OF passion to-
,hr 100 the herman; l have walked
tntoosn many villages which had
noe, "aHtohly destroyed by German
.!oops Win every attendant atrocity
ny rrshch Suldes nave shown no
pss.on. my nave sSld, simply and
80 a. - 10 rms Is what they did
&c - ~ ieh.n why ana the answer
,he SAINT. we 90 not Know, but
w.
r
n ooiPfAseo at 4dea.
Now as nesr1,,
,,a fs,,,n as can measure
u the french people
whom l know, there is no Thought
tf partitioninr Cermony of e.
s,rov,ne - AZ, .aals.; w. VI |s
- Al eoSiiiHe that unqer
some form OF government the Ger
t.anS Will continue where they have
neeh LOT centuries There is no de-
SIRE 10 take German territory. but
mere rs vast an unreasonable
.,naIenieht at Ihe American assump-
sioh tnat the German will be trans
ioFineu pE chaHse IN government,
OF mat IL VIII be possible to trust
Hnu uedI win the German who under
ho eHipi,e was methodlcal muir
ana incendlary Wnen he lives
Fepuoilc, SOCIALIST or boil
Ts
;.tn ~, fS..eu nave nad many treaties
In .ne Germans. But all have been
r i.eu "neh thefe was gam Tor the
1 ro t b..cS sI,ina years the Freneh
e Flctlm1zed- And this has been done
fore VIC FrSnch pne ny race e mere
IL understand why the American. 1iv-
1hs 5000 miles away, should now I'M