The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-23
Only Maneuver.

~ " A"t hNhoA -
attack here is in fact designed to give
the impression of departure from Pres
ident Wilson's fourteen points, rather
than to make serious resistance. The
area affected Is so small, the amount
OF coal involved is so little necessary
to German industry, that the whole
Saar question would be unimportant
except that the German feels that it
is good ground on which to maneuNer.
As to the Polish problems, the Ger
man seems ready now to surrender
Posen in the east as she has tactly
accepted the cession of AlsaCe- Lorraine
in the west, but the loss of West Prus-
STA and Upper Silesia are almost fatal
blows to Prussia. II the Germans re-
ject the treaty of peace 1t will be on
the whole because Of the Polish pro-
visions, together with the paragraph
issues. But it Is well to understand
In America that debate in Germany
row is over the question as to whether
it will be profitable to sign and not
perform or merely not to sign,
The German has no intention Of per
forming. He has announced in advance
that the treaty of peace will be for
him another scrap of paper. He does
not recognize that responsibility for
the war is his, He does not will it
that the war was lost on the battle
field. He is building up a national be-
lltl llldl NCIlIidhN a NAiNNN" i'N'
signing the armistice by false promises
made by President Wilson; that, hav-
ing laid down its arms, Germany has
been shamefully betrayed and has no
| moral obligations to comply witt the
terms of the treaty of peace.
In sum, therefore, the actual signing
| of the treaty of peace by Germany is
| Of relatively less Importance thar 1t
would seem. Whether he signs or not,
| the German e a to wade. He means
to continue to compel the allies TO
maintain armies in Germany. he VIII
bubble and resist the application OF
| every provision in the treaty of peace,
and he hopes that the alliance will
ultimately disintegrate, before he has
been forced to comply with the terms
of the treaty of peace. 1t is clear,
then, as l nave said so often in these
dispatches, that we have not reached
a settlement in Europe. 1t is plain that
no settlement with Germany was pos
sible, because the German now, as at
all times, declines the responsibility for
the past and intends to avoid obllga-
tons in the future. His mentality re-
mains incomprehensive, his purpose
menacing, his signature worthless.
Complete Switch.
A past master at propaganda, free
once more to resume the type of cam
1 III III ~ III 3 Nt'' f'N
same Germans who a year ago were
outlining a peace of violence surpass-
ing anything in modern history, are
now endeavoring to create public SEN
timent against the allied peace terms
in allied countries by contrasting these
terms with their wi Interpretation OF
President Wilson's IA points.
When they were victorious these
Germans frankly affirmed their pur-
pose to annex all of Northern France.
Now that they are defeated, they are
proclaiming to the whole world the
hypocrisy Of the allies in such cases
as the Saar valley arrangement. Con-
temptuous of every purpose, every con.
sideration of humanity, when It seemed
to their interests, these are
now skillfully and artfully Interpreting
President Wilson'S statements as II
they had been a guarantee that Ger
many, by surrendering, might escape
not punishment, but the duty Of repa-
ration. This is the situation as it ex-
lists at the present time. This Is the
meaning of the German tactics. They
can best be understood by remember
ing that the old gang Is still In charge
in Germany, that they are animated
by the old spirit and that they are
endeavoring to use the principles tt
which they never subscribed to save
them from payment of the costs Of
that war to which they universally con
sented and in responsibility for the eX'
cess of which they unhesitatinglS
shared. Herself unchanged, Germany
is ~endeavoring once more to use the
idealism and liberalism of the nations
she attacked to save herself and en-
able herself to play her old game in
the world again.
downright, 1919, by the Mcclure News.
paper Syndicate.D