Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-04
GERMANY THRIVES ON
DELAYS OF HER VlCTORS

! Her Refusal to Pay for the Scapa Flow
! Treachery Emphasizes the Need for
Unity on the Treaty and World
League Control
! TAKEN by itself. Germany's refusal
L to sign the protocol, which includes
the obligation, among others, of making
reparation for the scuttling of the Scapa
| Flow fleet is not necessarily alarming.
The Allies have asserted their right to
| enforce coercive measures to bring com
| pliance, and when they do so that partic-
ular incident will be closed.
Unfortunately however, the signifi-
| cance of the event cannot be isolated.
! Optimism that persists in detaching
! facts from their setting is spurious. The
Teuton obduracy Of the moment, which
is doubtless durable, is a link in a dan
gerous chain which has been growing
since November II, 1918.
The framing of protocol after protocol
necessary to the enforcement of the arml-
stice terms has been met by balkiness
in Berlin Many of the series of elev-
enth hour sulrenders have been merely
nominal The note which the associated
powers presented to Germany on No
vember Z, this year, contained an omi-
nous summary of delinquencies, dark
record of broken promises.
That there is nothing subtle in the
German attitude is typical, but that cir
cumstance only accentuates the perlls
of delay in regulating nation which
once challenged the world.
1t is not for an instant TO be ques-
toned that the wranges about the peace
treaty and the deferment of ratification,
not only in the United States but In GER
tain other countries, have raised German
hopes. They were natural aspirations,
and to be reused to startled surprise
over their expression is to be blind to
ordinary attributes of human nature.
The situation is simply this: Germany
was defeated in the field. The complex
relationship of her foes, their Individual
ambitions, their individual desires, self
ish and idealistic, rendered the formula
ton of a peace treaty long and ardu-
Gus task. Germany capitalized this
critical season as best she could by
hedging, by postponement of action on
pledges, by wriggling and squirming in
the face of obligations.
An equally fruitful period followed.
The treaty, imperfect, as is every other
creation by man, came in for inevitable
criticism and at times for severe oppo-
sition. Whether the long examination
which developed or the objections which
were advanced or the reservations pro-
posed were morally wholesome or other
wise is beside the specific point. Ger
many saw an opportunity to exploit the
indecision of others to her own advan-
tage.
Germany has been called unregenerate
There are damning facts in her career
both in war and peace, in support of this
rating; but were she the most virtuous
nation in history is it conceivable that
she would turn away from any opening
whatever which might lead to softening
her defeat?
Obviously it is a staggering job to
impose a world peace. The congress of
Vienna tried it, and before its sessions
were over Napoleon was out of Elba
and master of France. The peace con-
ference of 1914 went through an all too
familiar course in international affairs.
Quarrels and jealousies between the
victors broke out. Gar Alexander of
Russia proved dictatorial and grasping.
Britain was angered. The unity which
won at Leipzig oozed away. Talleyrand
obtained unexpected concessions to
| France.
Bonaparte did more, watching the
scene from his Mediterranean islet. No
| final and comprehensive and definitive
peace treaty had been enforced when
| he landed in Frejus. France rose to him,
and not so much because the nation
repudiated its former reputation of the
emperor, but because the opportunity to
| mitigate the humiliation of the "patrie"
was at hand.
A quarter of century of European
war had ended in 1914. The allies of
that day were weary but in another
wear they had to fight again. 1t is a
fair assumption that, given unity in
Vienna and the prompt enforcement Of
the arrangements planned there, Water
loo would have been unnecessary.
Historical comparisons seldom dove
tail perfectly. In the present instance
il is unfair to read Paris, where, despite
blunders and iniquities, liberalism GER
tainly dominated, for Vienna, where alb
solutism assuredly held sway. Neither
is it credible that Germany could speed
ily rise again in a military way as
France did in 1914.
The Berlin Government has no
navy: it is susceptible of being
powerfully influenced by drastic
blockade measures. German frontiers
- -.anl.nnnd The Rhineland is still