The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-11-30

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asserted her old influence in Europ-
can gatherings. The decisions made
at Vienna were an abomination.
They contained the seeds of untold
wars and revolutions, but this does
not lessen the strength of the argu-
ment that only by the separation OF
the two detectives could any agree
ment have been made, and had the
Vienna document been as good as it
was bad 1t would not have been pos
sible if the victors OF 1914 and 1915
had pursued toward France the
course we are bound to pursue to-
ward Germany.
In war and in peace. in all human
relations, it is eqaIly essential to fix
upon the objective. Is the Versailles
gathering to be primarily for the
purpose OF compelling Germany, at
last conquered, to make just restitu-
ton and reparation for past sins
against humanity? To make her
repay to the French and Belgians
what she has stolen, seized, destroy
ed? If so, it is easy to frame
treaty which does these things, and
we have the power to enforce this
repayment, however long and intri-
cate may be the procedure. We have
and reclaimed Alsace- Lorraine: the
German colonies are in our hands.
as iS the German navy and the
weapons OF the army. We are oc-
cupXing the left bank of the Rhine
and we can continue to occupy 1t
until Germany pays up, just as Ger
man soldiers stayed in Eastern
France until the indemnity of 1871
was paid.
But if our first objective is to re-
organize human society, information
al society by creating a League of
Nations to which al peoples willing
~ surrender the right and the power
to settle their international differ
ences, an organization which in the
nature of things will be a guarantor
of things as they are, of the map
made at Versailles, of the surrenders
made by Germany-wilI Germany,
bleeding from the wounds OF settle
ment, made in accordance with JUS
tice, to be sure, be a willing member
of any such association, or surren-
der, save for, the time and language
alone, her freedom of action? VIII
she not do as Prussia. did after Tilsit
submit but circumvent?
More than this, If, for example,
certain nations in the number of
those associated with Germany go
to Versailles with the view that
seeking PREPARATION and restitution
must be the chief objective and 9TH
ers go with the belief thai, reparati ton
and restitution are less important
than the creation of a real League Of
Nations, will there not be split be-
tween the victors in this war, and
will not the Germans be able to make
use of this split, naturally allying
themselves with those who seek TO
promote the League Of Nations rath-
er than the claims for restitution and
PREPARATION?
And if such a divergence Of objec-
tives occurs, it seems to me newt
able that the United States, which
has suffered no material injury of
consequences and is therefore least
concerned for itself with any claim
for restitution or reparation, will be
most likely to drift toward a, COM
munity Of action with the Germans
in the furtherance of the scheme for
a League of Nations at the sacrifice
of the claims for reparation to
Britain, France and Italy, as well 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 indicated,
to come to Versailles with an insis-
tent demand for generous terms in
order that their country may not
sink into the Russian state OF an
archy as a consequence of the bur-
dens imposed upon it. The plea may
be sham OF sincere, bu1 in either
case it will be effective and viii make
a measure of impression. And it will
be directed adroitly at all the social
istic and anarchistic elements in the
allied countries.
The result may easily be chaos az
Versailles, an extension of the Ses-
sions through weeks and months, to
the utter disorganiZation of the,
business of the world and the perpe-
tuation of conditions ont of which
anarchy may grow. Such delay, too,
would be to the German interest, for
it must be German policy to post
pone to the last possible moment any
passing of sentences upon her which
will compel her to make payment. If
she could achieve permanent sep
aration of the allies, growing out of
the different values placed upon rep
aration and the League of Nations,
then she might escape altogether.
The solution to this tangle, it
seems to me- must be sought in the
separation of the two functions Of
the Versailles congress. 1.-THE first
business be the settlement with Ger
many, the settlement which alone
can free the French and Belgians
from the intolerabIe burden placed
destruction then we shall achieve
peace. we shall close the war as It
| should be closed, and the way will
be clear to the creation of a League
| of Nations But if the terms OF
peace are left to be the trading
ground for German adhesion to a
League of Nations. we shall get no.
where and Germany may be able TO
escape from the costs OF her crimes.
/ while the French and Belgian popu-
| lations, left without compensation
| for their miseries will be hurried
along the road which leads to Boil
! sheyisn.
no impose peace terms upon Ger
many is a simple business. for the
| things which the allies mean to do
Iare ali clearly established and are
IundiscussibIe. The only single point
which can be debated is that Of the
| size of the money payment to be de-
| manded OF Germany, and that can be
agreed upon promptly When the
congress assemblies at Versailles the
allied terms can be ready, they can
be presented to Germany, and Ger
man acceptance can be made the
condition upon which the next prob
/ lem will be faced, the problem of the
organization OF the League of Ma
| tons.
But no one should mistake the OPP
portunities which the Germans will
have to break up the unity OF their
] nueYYies If the fsonerpGs aasar1 ble.s
with no clear program in their minds
/ of the allied representatives and no
well defined understanding OF the