The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-11-02
VIII Punish Germany.

ltVhls OF peace as a basis therefor
nave been agreed upon.
VIII Punish Germany.
There are many surprises in store,
incidentally, for those who have BEEN
arguing that Germany is going TO es
cape punishment by a settlement ut
the war at this l%unCture. Irrespective
Of the punishment which, no oouht,
VIII be visited Ivy elements inside Ger
many upon the elements which mtS-
led and deceived them, there Is M
EUult thai the Gnrluan people them
selves as well as their government, are
going 10 he Obliged TO submit 10 what
some people may regard as restorative
measures, but which will be puaitlNe
nevertheless.
For instance. one Of the suggestions
which / have heard discussed is that
which would oblige Germany TO return
10 France the original indemnity ma d
by the latter in 1870, Also, German, q,
It is being suggested, will be COM
OF restoring Belgium, certainly The
German people viii not be much IN
love with the milt,aristic group who
started the war when NICE they CON
template the debts which the presens
and future generations will have to pay
to square accounts with the world.
Aside from the controversy "a To
neither the trade boycott should be
used against Germany, which Is some
thing that probably viii not be adopt
ed-except as y weapon OF discipline
should Germany fail to keep her word
there Is every reason TO believe that
Germany will not find 1t ms easy to
regain her trade poSiti'p $ some OF
her business men La u sud 1t would
be,
To all the talk of coon mic dtsCrim-
nation after the war, &c mar business
men have paid little heed, being Of the
opinion that people would continue to
buy goods wherever they could be pul
| chased for the lowest prices and thRt
France and Germany would TRACE
across the border within Il week after
a peace treaty had been signed.
May Lose World Trade.
Thus far only the general principles
Of trade discrimination nave been dis,
cussed by the allied governments and
President Wilson has been supported
somewhat strongly by large sections
| Of French and English opinion in the
! idea that there must be no political
tariffs. But in the actual application
| by individual business men In America
and elsewhere Of their own policies, tine
government here as elsewhere will have
little to say.
The property taken out Of German
| hands by the alien property custodian,
for example, probably will 10 go back
70 it's original owners. though, OF
course, tho proceeds in money will be
| paid them.
Congress will have to decide whether
! Germany shall have the same hold ON
our internal as she had be-
fore the war, and there seems little
| doubt that the valuable docking facility
In New York held by German owners,
will ever be given back. While the
government at Washington undoubt-
| eddy will insist on n remova OF, eco
| monte barriers 90 far as future trade
is concerned. there is no sentiment
| here faVorlng the restoration to Ger
| many of trade she lost during the war.
All in all, while there is very little
said publicly about p%unishment n
| PREPARATION there are q thousand ways
| in which the German people are goluG
10 realize their colossal blunder and
| the mistakes OF arrogant leaders IN
| supposing that the rest OF the world
would soon forget or forgive the sins
Of the war.
True enough the president Is insist
ing upon a peace Of justice IN which
penalties shall not bo imposed that
| viii give cause for another war III n
| few Years Of time, hut from such talk
| as one hears In official quarters, the
principle Of PREPARATION IL Just as deep
| rooted here as II, IL IN Europe. There
| isn't much shouting or buster but the
] neaoe that Germany Is to get wiz be
| neither soft nor unhuiniliating. hfwill
be a peace OF strong justice.
| (Copyright, 1918, by the New York Eve
ming Post, lnc)