The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-20
GERMAN BLACKMAIL
TACTICS EXPECTED
Signs Point to Them when
Time Comes for Signing
Peace Treaty.
THREAT OF FRESH CRISIS
New Armistice Terms Designed
to Checkmate Exploitation
of B0lshevism.
THREAT OF FRESH CRISIS

London Times Service.
Copyright, 1919: oil rights reserved.
PARIS. Feb. 1e.-The armistice nego-
tiations vitality affect the whole question
of peace with Germany. and those nego-
tiations are not by any means ended by
the last meeting Of Marshal Foch with
the Germans at Treves. All that has
been done is to prolong the existing
terms of the armistice, to call upon the
enemy to execute without delay the con-
ditlons laid down in three previous con-
ventions and enjoin upon him complete
cessation of operations against the Poles.
The chief conditions which the enemy
has not yet put into effect refer to the
immediate handing over of stolen bonds
railway rolling stock and submarines
and that facilities be given to all allied
agents to control German wealth de-
posted abroad as well as for working
the German merchant marine under al
lied control for supply purposes.
The Germans did their utmost in way
OF protest. but there can be no other
action open to the Allies than to force
Germany to suspend hostilities against
the states to the east who have thrown
In their lot with the Allies. Already the
Allies are supplying food to the enemy,
and their general attitude Is in striking
contrast with that Of Bismarck in 1871.
Fresh Protests Certain.
Fresh protests and fresh moments Of
crisis are certain to be forthcoming
when the final terms OF the armistice
are produced at Treves. The vehemence
Of those protests may probably be meas
ured in advance by recalling what has
been said In the Weimar Assembly by
the representatives OF the defeated Ger
N daCl a
cannot. pay any indmnity; she demands
the return OF her colonies: she refuses
to recognize the cession OF Alsace-Lor-
raine TO France, of Posen to Poland {;
she intends to Join German Austria to
herself and wants to enter the League
of Nations on an equal footing with
the Allies.
These pretensions are evidently exag-
gerated, but even making allowances
for the inevitable political jockeyins for
position they would appear to support
the view that the French decidedly hold,
namely that Germany shows now that
she rs prepared to use blackmail tactics
when the time for signing the peace
treaty comes.
As a matter of fact IL such Is her in
tention she will be forced to reveal it
at a much earlier date, for as has be-
fore been pointed out the terms upon
which the armistice will be definitely
renewed will in themselves constitute the
main provisions of the actual peace
treaty not only as regards the French
frontier but also as regards the much
greater problem OF general disarma men I
which lies at the root of the League of
Nations.
BY fixing now the strength of permits
sible German armaments in time of
peace. both military and naval. the def
mite armtstice conditions will at the same
time practically determine the standard
Of forces TO be maintained by the League
Of Nations.
Haig Assists Foch.
Field Marshal Haig has arrived in
Paris and has gone to Marshal Foch's
headquarters. which the new terms of
the armistice are being elaborated
These terms will be inspired by a practi-
cal and immediate desire to make II
impossible for Germany to avoid the
consequences of defeat by showing her
That the Allies refuse to allow her TO
threaten western Europe with tho
dangers OF Bolshevsm while she contin-
ues to exploit that movement In the east
against our friends
Tney also will aim at laying down
broad lines of Central European military
mhat military ration" they will be al
lowed by the Allies and what they will
have to meet II they decide later to
enter into an armament competition with
the whole League OF Nations.
Marshal Foch's reports show that the
Germans at the present time have some
60 divisions under arms capable II
hard necessity drive them of taking the
heid with adequate supplies Of artillery
ana other war material
II is known the Germans have not vet
executed the armistice terms as regards
naval surrenders Not only have thew
sought TO conceal the number OF subna :
rines and other small craft but they also
have done nothing yet of a satisfactory
nature with regard TO the vessels on
the building slips. When the Allies have
formulated their terms. probably by the
ana OF the week, there will be another
crisis
The German cannot be blamed ~ no
sees in the recent Franco American dis
cusslons signs OF dlsunion. lie IL n,ak-
Ing bad mistake. but nevertheless a
comprehensive mistake,