New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-27
France Demands
Strict Tribunal
TO Punish Guilty
international Organization
Is Urged by Majority of
Press to See That the
Criminals Get Justice


Foreign Prose Bureau
The views of the majority of the
french rress may be summarized thus:
germany has shown no intention to
explain the origins of the war and to
punish the guilty ones. II is there
lofc necessary to create an organiza-
ton which viii sec 10 this. 1t must be
an international tribunal, d strict and
severe one. Fhe hour has come when
the FREQ peoples can show they know
how to make laws. What would the
future hold if the victorious nations
We're not able to inflict punishment?
IL Is because Just now they possess an
irresistible force that tho victors over
germany must not do anything UNJUST
but must leave nothing unpublished.
No example must be given for the fut-
urc which would enable coming gen
crat1ons to criticisc the present attl-
tude. No precedent must be left from
winch the vanqWshed could get sup
port later.
Basing ITS argument on this order
OF ideas, the "Demps,' of Paris. re-
lects d plobiscte for Alsacc-Lorrainc
Concerning the speech Of President
Poincarc at the statue of Strasbourg.
IN which he said "a plebiscitc would be
the height of injustice,' the "Temps"
says; yes, as splendid as it would be
10 count the immense number of votes
cast IN favor of the mother country.
we cannot admit that the PREPARATION Of
wrong should be subordinated TO a
vote and that conquest authorizes tho
victor to put legally into question the
destiny OF the population. TO STATE as
a principle that spoliation conrcrs a
right upon the dcspoilcr would not be
to guarantee future peace, and this is
now the most important task"
Socialist papers continue their cam
palgn against all that the rest of the
press considers the public is entitled
to expect as the result of victory The
"ilumanltc' proclaims that in the face
OF the German revolution the duty of
the Socialists is quite clear. "Thov
must make every effort and use all
their power that the rulers, helped by
the reactionaros, should in no way
spoil the political and economic in
novation which takes effect on the
other side of the Rhine"
The "Temps' remarks that it is
rather curious that the International
lists show so much concern as to the
political and economical innovation on
the other side Of the Rhine, as they
seem not at all interested in the rep
aratlonS which the people on the other
sac OF the khlne owe to France and
Belgium. How Germany should do
this, that IS the question of rcality.'
What Germany is passing through
to-day IS not revolution, but the col
lapse of a vanQuished nation. The
truth about the so-called German rev
olutlon is that the Sozialdemokratie'
is simply trying to adapt itself to cir
cumstances, just as formerly her chiefs
had very adroitly adapted themselves
to more ancient forms. In other coun-
tries nobody will be duped In the sub
lime effort for the defence Of their ex-
istencc and independence they fully
realize the reality of the present day.
And as true, healthy democrac;es.
where duties are in equilibrium with
rights, they are surely guarded against
the peril of anarchy" says the Temps"
IL conclusion.