Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-05-23

that among the most wanton acts per-
petrated by tho German armies dur.
Ing h war was the almost complete
destruction by her OF the coal sup
industry was obliterated with q call
culation n savagery which it will
take many years to repair. The result
has been a grave and prolonged Short
age OF a in western Europe. There
can be no reason in equity why the
exclusively by the Allied nations
who were its victims. or why Ger
many, who deliberately made herself
responsible for the deficiency, should
not, to the full limit Of her capacity,
make it good.
Stress is also laid upon the hard
ships alleged to be inflicted upon
Germany by the necessity of import
ing in the future iron ores and zinc.
1t is understood why Germany should
be supposed to suffer from conditions
to which other countries contentedly
submit. 1t would appear to be a
fundamental fallacy that the political
control OF a country is essential in
order to procure q reasonable share
Of its products. Such a proposal finds
no foundation in economic law or in
history.
1.-THE Allied and associated powers
cannot accept h speculative estim-
0SCS pICSCHICu W t11cIH III IU0 1SIIN0N =
note on the future condition of Ger
man industry as a whole. This estim-
ate appears to them to be character
lied and vitiated by palpable exax-
g%erations. No notice is taken of the |
fact that the economic disaster pro-
duced by the war is widespread and, |
indeed, universal. Every country is
reason why Germany which was re-
sponsible for the war, should not suf-
fer also.
Similarly as regards the popula-
ton of the future. no reliance can be
placed on the data which are con-
tanned in the German note. On the
one hand it is sought to prove that
emigration from Germany will be |
necessary but that few countries will
receive the intending immigrants. On
the other hand, it is sought to show
that there will be a food of Germans
returning to their native LAM and
live under the conditions which have
already been described as intolerable.
1t would be unwise to attach too
much weight to either speculation.
FINALLY, the German note raskly
asserts that the peace conditions will
logically bring o the destruction
Gloss" in Originally of several mill
lions of persons in Germany in ad-
dition to those who have persisted in
S4AS "o4 VI VAN "AS oALCscu ~
lost their lives in consequence Of the
blockade. Against the war losses Of
Germany might fairly be placed the !!
far greater losses which her initial
i've and conduct of the war have in |
ficted upon the Allied countries and
which have left an ineffaceable mark
upon the manhood of Europe. On
the other hand, the figures and the |
losses alleged to hav been caused by
the blockade are purely hypothetical. |
| h German estimate of future losses
could be accepted only if the premises
p which it is presumed to rest are
. accepted also.
Ignores Relief.
THE German reply also ignores
the immense relief that will be caused
to her people in the struggle for re-
her military ornaments in future.
Hundreds of thousands of her inhabi-
tants who have hitherto been engaged
either in training for armies or in
producing instruments of destruction
will henceforth be available for
peaceful vocations and for increasing
the industrial productiveness of the
nation. No result should be more !
satisfactory to the German people.
But the first condition of any such
~recuperation would appear to be thai
Germany shoul recognize the facts
of the present state of the world,
which she has been mainly instru-
mental in creating. and realize that
she cannot escape calamity that has
befallen the world has been appor-
toned by the victorious powers. not
to herfdeserts, but solely to her ab;!-
ity to bear it.
All the nations of Europe are suf-
fering from losses and are bearing
and will continue to bear burdens
which are almost more than they can
carry. These burdens and losses
have been forced upon them by the
aggression of Germany. I. is right
that Germany. which is responsible
for the origin of these calamitics.
should make them good to the Ut
most Of her capacity. Her hardship
will arise not from the conditions Of
peace, but from the acts Of those
who provoked and prolonged the war.
Those who were responsible for the
war cannot escape its Just consc-
ouences."
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