Evening star., 1918-12-01
TWO DIFFICULTIES WILL IMPERIL
SUCCESS OF PEACE CONFERENCE
AT VERSAILLES, Mr.. SIMONDS. SAYS


that the United States. which has suf-
fered no material injury of conse-
quences and is therefore least con-
cerned for itself with any claim for
restitution or PREPARATION. will be most
likely to drift toward community of
action with the Germans in the fur
therance Of the scheme for a league
of nations at the sacrifice of the
claims for reparation to Britain,
France and Italy, as we'll as Belgium
and Serbia.
The. Germans, moreover, whatever
degree of order they may succeed in
establishing at home are bound. as
their course has already indica ted, to
come to Versailles with an ,insistent
demand Tor generous terms in order
that their country may not sink into
the Russian state of anarchy as
consequence of the burdens imposed
upon it. The plea may be sham or
sincere. but in either case it will be
effective and will make q measure of
impression. And it will be directed
adroitly at all the socialistic and
anarchistic elements in the allied
countries.
The result may easily be chaos at
Versailles. an extension OF the ses-
slonS through weeks and months. to
the utter disorganization of the bust
ness of the world and the perpetuation
Of conditions out Of which anarchy
to the German interest, for it must be
German policy to postpone to the
last possible moment any passing of
sentences upon her which will compel
her to make payment. : If she could
achieve a permanent separation of the
allies, growing out of the different
values placed upon reparation and the
league of nations, then she might
escape altogether.
The solution to this tangle, it seems
to me. must be sought in the separa-
tion of the two functions of the Yer
sailles congress.
Solution Is Suggested.
If the first business be the settle
ment with Germany, the settlement
which alone can free the French and
BelgianS from the intolerab1e burden
placed upon them by German deeds
of destruction, then we shall achieve
peace. we shall close the war as it
should be closed, and the way viii be
clear to the creation of a league. of
nations. But if the terms of peace
are left 10 be the trading ground for
German adhesion to a league of ma
tions. we shall get nowhere and Ger
many may be able to escape from the
costs of her crimes, while the French
and Belgian popula tions, left without
compensation for their miseries, will
be hurried along the road which leads
to bolSheviSm.
TO impress peace terms upon Ger
many is a simple business. for the
things which the allies mean TO do are
all clearly established and are undis-
cussable. The only single point which
can be debated is that of the size of
the money payment to be demanded
of Germany. and that can be agreed
upon promptly. When the congress
assemblies at Versailles the allies
terms can be ready, they can be pre-
sented to Germany, and German ac-
ceptance can be made the condition
upon which the next problem will be
faced, the problem of the organization
of the league of nations.
But no one should mistake the op-
portunities which the Germans will
have to break up the unity of their
with no clear program in the minds
of the allied representatives and no
well defined understanding as to
which comes frSt-the settlement of
the present war or the prevention of
future wars. Talleyrand had the con-
gress of Vienna by the ears in no
time. although he represented a
beaten France and had been barely a
year before the agent of the abhorred
Napoleon. Surely Prince Won Bulow,
II he is called up to perform the task
for which he has been preparing for
iooi " III have hardly less
attractive opening.
Freedom of the Seas.
To take. for example, a. Single ques-
ton, that of the freedom of the seas
This either means some sort of inter-
national understanding which will
limit the operations of the dominant
sea power in time of war or it means
nothing. If it mears the former, then
1T Will unqueStionaoly be opposed by
the British ana supported by the Ger
mans. Sea power used without regard
to international law as written before
the era of the submarine and in de-
iance of the rules of blockade, which
were based upon the conditions of sail
navigation, has defeated Germany and
saved the world, quite as much as
Great Britain, from German domina-
ton.
Such being the case it is certain
that the British nation will not now,
whatever might be the case genera
ton hence of the league of nations
shall demonstrate its efficiency, yield
in one degree that power which alone
has proved its salvation. But if
Britain refuses. and Germany accepts
a proposal coming from President
Wilson. what will be the effect upon
American representatives at Yer
sailles: what will be the effect upon
of reparation and restitution remain
unsettled while the congress divides over
the freedom of the seas:
/ think every one of any humani-
tartan sympathies hopes to see
evolved at Versailles some form of
international agreement which may
prove the framework for a true league
of nations. and /; real guarantee
against international misunderstand-
ings. which culminate inevitably in
wars. The danger which is apparent
to many today is the danger that is
disclosed in the inevitable confusion
which will result if. before the pres
ent war us llquidated. the conditions
OF "a future 1nterna tional association
become the cause of differences de.
bate. estrangement, between, the ma
tons who have won this war only
by seeking common end by a unity
OF thought and of action.
Price Is Too High.
But if the condition, and the only
condition, of league of nations be
to make peace with Germany which
viii make the victims of German
aggression and violence in the past
Tour years bear the eventual burdens
OF that aggression then it seems to
me that the price is too high. AM,
the danger is very real Nor is there
less danger that We may be brought
10 the posi1lon OF seeking to lessen
the effectiveness in Britain.s hands
of the one weapon on which our
victory in this war depended, namely,
the British navy, operating withouf
regard to conventions, regulating the
freedom of the seas
Even Utopia would be intoIerah1e
II in IT only the red-handed murderer
hYsn TO NNnN VppNr,