New-York tribune., 1919-05-15
The Scheidemann Moaaines

And now will come no inconsiderable
number of persons to echo the winnings
of Scheidemann, and also no inconsider-
able number to express irritated wonder
ment over the latest exhibit of German
psychology.
But what was Scheidemann expected
to say? Did any one seriously believe
he would rejoice over the terms of peace
Was it not inevitable for him to declare
President Wilson is a faith-breaker and
that the conditions are such as to reduce
Germany to servitude?
Instead of giving an excuse of sur
| prise, 1T seems as if the German Chan
cellors reactions are as understandable
as the squealings of a pig caught in a
gate or the brayings of a donkey when
asked to do something no donkey likes.
Sometimes it would seem as if there
was too great tendency to attribute
subtlety to the Germans.
Scheidemann is the chief Of govern
ment which would retain power. Should
1t not make loud noise it would be ac
cused of consenting to the mixing of the
bitter medlcine-would be attacked for
not getting better bargain 1t saws
that the peace is awful to convince it's
supporters that it has done everything
possible to soften the hard hearts of
Paris.
The German Socialist leader is not
difficult to classify. He is public man
OF the type which infests all communi
ties, which has an instinct for f1oatinp
on the eddies of opinion. When the war
was launched his record required him
to oppose it, but Germany was shouting
Tor the lustful adventure. So he adopt
ed the view that the Teuton had been
attacked by the Slav. When Belgium
was invaded he accepted the fable that
Belgium had been non-neutral When
Fetrograd became temporarily pro- Allv
and the future looked dark for Germany
ne was selected by the Kaiser to man
age the proposed Stockholm conferences.
Then when the Germans, through Lenine
and Irotzky, became masters of Russia
and the Brest-Litovsk treaty was writ
ten Scheldemann became silent and re-
NAMED so until the German offensive in
the West was wrecked The Chancellor
has no stubborn convictions to prevent
hlm from accommodating his views to
the demands Of the hour.
The complaint that the Fourteen Points
have not been respected is childish. but
"nen men can find nothing mature to
say they are commonly childish. The
war ended in military disaster. Peace
dld not come because year before Presi-
dent Wilson, like other Ally leaders, had
drawn up formula Of principles which,
the Germans suddenly discovered wero
just and righteous.
On October l, 1918, Prince Max of Baden
arrived in Berlin to become Chancellor
tie found on his desk, ready for SIGMA
ture, dispatch asking for an armistice
prepared by the military command. Con-
dltlons were so desperate he was told
something must be done at once. or
course ne had to avoid assigning the
true reason for the approach. Goinp
through his portfolio, Prince Max dino
out President Wilson's speech of the
Fourteen Points. 1t was as good as
any other--was better, for by exagger-
ating minor differences GERMANY mioht
divide the Allies. 1t is not improbable
that Bernstorff suggested that Pres;-
dent Wilson be saluted as the peacc-
maker.
The motive for playing up the Four
teen Points was thus so obvious that II
Is strange any were so gullible as tn
be caught by the trick. But some were
caught, and the seed of the idea was
planted that our terms in some wav
were holier than those of other peoples.
Inc legend was almost blown into ac-
ceptance when boatload OF trained
Journalists was sent to Paris and it be-
came apparently their duty to spread
German valuations of the Fourteen
Points.
Official Germany has little present
nope OF getting n revision of the treaty.
But an attempt Is worth making. 1t
Will at least serve to break the news
TO the German people-may SO inhame
them against foreigners as to make them
forget that Germany's real foes are
within.