New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-05-11
The Peace and the Fourteen

Anxious inquiry reaches The Tribune
as to what has happened to the Fourteen
Points. The worst is apparently feared.
1t is intimated that perhaps "spurlos
versenkt" has been applied-that some
where has occurred sinking without
trace.
The matter is hardly as serious as
this The Germans may not claim to be
swinded. In no rational sense were
they deceived They knew how vague
and general were the Fourteen Points
when they invoked them. They were
aware they were dealing with general
tiles which could be variously inter-
preted. That is why they accepted them.
The several points were largely borrow
ings from prior declarations of the Allies
which Germany said were impossible
of acceptance. The armistice surely
bfeathed no Observation-Disclosures spirit,
yet the Germans signed it. They &C.
guessed in the vital decision which de-
barred German delegates from the con-
ference. They said that the powers were
not on terms of perfect equality, and
that one side was to dictate to the other.
.. In September the President, explaining
what the Fourteen Points meant, while
indicating he wanted all of us to be as
soclated in peace making and maintain
ing, conceded that Germany's participa-
ton depended on her future conduct
The peace conference was organized on
the basis of exclusion-did not even adj
nit representatives of the neutrals. The
business of peace writing and peace
league forming became the affair of the
.victors. 1t was seen that any other
meant the defeat of justice
What has happened since to the Four
teen Points largely followed as matter
Of course. 1t was impracticable to con-
fer with open doors. Great Britain re-
served the right to submit her interpre-
tation of freedom of the SEAS" and that
hopeless generality was dropped The
threat of economic exclusion, it was seen,
must be suspended over Germany if
drastic physical coercion was to be
avoided. The colonial article left the de-
cision open. The evacuation of all Rus
sian territory would mean surrender to
grossly arbitrary power. In readiusting
Atalian boundaries hinterland rights
come in collision with the right of self
determination. In Danzig Germany was
given the benefit of doubt Japan's re-
latons to Shantung are much as ours to
Cuba. AS to Rumania, Serbia, Turkey,
Syria, Arabia, Armenia, ETC., the settle
ments are to be opportunists, but the
motive seems to achieve substantial ius-
tice
In the proceedings at Paris power has
been exercised by those who possessed it;
decisions have been arrived at not al
ways by open discussion and agreement.
but there is little evidence of selfishness
and practically none of imperialism
Equality of national right has not been
completely respected. 1t could not be.
OF necessity the major powers decided.
But good spirit has been displayed.
Never in human history have victors
been animated by higher principles than
are disclosed at Paris. The ends sought
nave been the general good No nation.
1t seems, is to be accused of having been
ignobly selfish. But 1t was necessary.
first, to exclude the enemy from the de-
hberations. and, second, for the chief
nations to base decision on power. The
business was too complex to admit If
strict adherence to cut-and-dried pro-
gramme Although we have no great
regard for the Fourteen Points, thinking
they confused rather than cleared I'D.
little specific basis can be discovered for
German complaints. If justice was the
supreme objective, then Germany has
more reason to rejoice over the mercy
shown her than the severity of her pun
ishment.