Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-05-19
BY FRANK H. sIMoNDs.

.
essential to recognize two funda-
mental differences between this peace
and all previous great settlements OF
modern history. In.the treaty of Yer
sailles recognition is taken of new
order in the world. Hitherto the END
of a great war has been followed by
a settlement based mainly on terri
torial compensation to the victors and
only incidentally by financial awards
Ancient war was comparatively mex
pensive.. 1t was ridiculously indestr'e-
tive.
Cities and towns survived and re-
sumed their agricultural occupation
the day after battle, but modern
war wipes cities off the map and the
loser in modern war must con1ront
consequences beyond the conception
of any one in the past.
So much for the fact that TINS is
primarily an economic punishment Oh
Germany Now, in the second place,
this peace cannot be a settlement eX-
cept in the narrowest sense, because
it settles nothing. 1t only arrange;s
a method of settlement. 1t leaves 1t
for the future to enforce terms. IT
adiures, in all essential cases. with
minor exceptions, the nqulda'lon
which hitherto has promptly followed
war, Therefore 1t Is Impossible now
to go beyond the statement that II
the terms of peace can be enforced
and are enforced. it is just peace:
But it may be a generation-granted
that Germany does accept the treaty
of peace-before anybody can meas
ure it's real value. VIZ
Represents Three Points of View.
There is third circumstance of
major Importance. The treaty OF
peace as drafted repre- sents three
Thoroughly distinct points of view
American. British. continental. The
American point of view was com
nrehended in the Presidents INSIST
ence on the league OF nations as
ha sis Of .neace. The British was com
pretended in a dominating desire 10
preserve and. expand Anglo American
friendship. and the only less con
trolling necessity OF preserving ihti-
mate association with France as
guarantee against possible German
aggression in the future. The french
noint of view was one IN which Sc.
curity and reparation were prevailing
motives.
It is unnecessary to niger over
other compromises. To the fmperative
demand Of the British colonies MI
wilson has yielded. and accepted the
mandatory system. which, IN iael,
means a transfer of German colonies
In the main to the British empire
Such conditions as are put upon this
transfer are illusory. The truth is
that Britain, France and japan will
hold the German colonies as they hold
their own and as far as Germany Is
concerned-and this is the capital
noint-she loses them completely ana
without hope of restoration
The same is true of compromises OF
Tho saar and Danzig. Germany loses
both territories. the first for perloo
Of time with the possibility that
the loss will be permanent, the sec
ond permanently. but In ,each case
ACQUISITION by one, OF Gemanyss eng
mics is in dsfer raSsd 60 ah mrS so as to
preserve the issue and the cause OF o.
the difficulty indefinitely: .,-o,
So far. the territory to be taken
from Germany is without exceptloti,
territory acquired at the expense s sa1d
neighbors of Germany and heid
AGAINST the will of the peoples A.
sace-Lorraine. Schleswig and the
polish frontier land represent the
spojlation of previous Prusslan ag-
eressive wars. The Saar valley De
came an economic gauge as result
of German devastation in northern
But who is to guarantee the per
manence Of all these changes? The
American answer has been the league
of nations. but the league Of nations
has no power in itsen.. Il has no Y.
armies. It has no fleets. m tneory' IT
was to become complete within rel
atiyely early time by the entrance of
Germany. but in fact this would
mean Germanys voluntary agreement
to submit to terms which every Ger.
man will regard as a sentence OF
men can imagine that Germany will
accent the economic conditions of the
treaty of Versailles with any greater
Willingness than: the French accept.
ed the provisions Of the treaty OF
Frankfort. or with any less consid-
cradle reservation.