Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-22
GERMANY SoUEALING BECAUSE
THE "a POINTS ARE SHARP


Their Preservation in the Treaty Un-
masks the Sham Affection for Them
Revealed in Her Latest Propaganda
| GERMAN invitations are not usually
~ acceptable. An exception, however,
is at hand in the hectic entreaty, emanat-
ing from Berlin, that Americans place
the fourteen points opposite the peace
! terms.
I'VE do not believe" continues this
characteristic broadside of eeventh-hour
| propaganda, that any one in the United
| States will then have the courage to
claim that there can be found in the
| peace conditions one single trace of
| President Wilson's program"
Unntentional truth is sometimes dis
Cemiblc in the oldest quarters. Ger
many has stumbled upon it in this in
stance. The courage" equal to drawing
parallels between the treaty of Versailles
and the announced underlying principles
for the negotiations is about as intense
as the valor necessary to support the
assertion that this is Thursday. No Won
obligation to be bold in rcconciling the
peace terms with their original structure
is simply noneXiStent Boldness in the
! absence Of obstacles is a paradox.
The real significance of Germanys
latest lamentation is. of course, her des-
pcrate fear of the fourteen points which
she so clumsily pretends to glorify. That
fact is ndisputably patent in the coincl-
dence of their principles with the treaty
provisions. Logic has ever a way of
paining the mcndacious, whose answer to
it inevitably takes the form of generali
zaton. This is the character of the cur
rent outgivings from Berlin, their sole
specific performance being the request of
parallel examination. Regard for truth
rather than any vain longings to exhibit
superfuous ieonine courage" in catching
a mouse prompts reiteration upon the
theme which bunglng Teuton diplomacy
"adores' in vague phrases, but in reality
breads and loathes.
Point one--"Open COUendnts of peace
| oyenly arIivcd Gt" As Germany herself
! has been privileged to correspond with
| her victors in notes, the texts of which
! have not been made public, she shares
with the Entente any blame that may be
alleged concerning violation of the spirit
of this article. Furthermore, no diplo-
matte conference in the worlds history
has had so much publicity as the one
which drew up the peace terms,
Point two-"Ft~edom Of the seas"
! 4,
position en- this subject by the terms of
! the armstice.
Point three-"RemoUdl of economic
barriers and trade restrictions" None
are imposed save those necessary to for
| tify the acknowledged principle of repa-
rations.
Point four-"Gudrdntee for the re-
| duction of urndments." The league of
nations is to take up this work.
Point five-"A djuStment of colonial
cIaims." One of the most vital functions
of the league and its mandate system is
to insure fair dealing and equity in this
| regard.
Point six-"EracuHtion of Russian ter
rito,y" Here the obligation rested en-
tirely upon Germany herself.
Point seven-"RestorHtion of Bel
gium." Another instance in which Ger
many is the agent of fulfilment.
Point eight-"Freedon of French ter
ritory and settlement of the AIsace-
Lorraine orrong." War necessity made
Germany the actor in the one case.
In the other, the Entente performs a
work of long-belated justice.
Point nine-"Readjustment of Italian
fyontier8." This subject lies outside of a
treaty with Germany.
Point ten-"Freedon for nations for.
2nerly included 1Oithin Austria Hungary" "
This also has no bearing on the German
treaty.
\ Point eleven" Evacuation of Ran1a.
3lIontenegro and Serbia" Still an,
other task which it was for Germany and
not the Entente to perform.
Point twelve "Disposition OF thu
Turkish EMPIRE" This, too, is legiti
mately excluded from the negotiation.
with Berlin.
Point thirteen Independents O.
Poland" The treaty makes that posi-
, BILE by restoring the Polish portions O.
Prussia to it's rightful owners.
Point fourteen-"A general associatio,
, of the TldtiOns." The league compre
, hensively attends to this.
, Point fifteen was added when German,
{ formally agreed during the armistice dis
= cussions to the principle of reparation
S and compensatiOns insisted upon by tn
e Entente, and emphatically accepted b
f the Government of the United States.
S No restrictions were made upon tn
= amount of the bill. Because of Germany
5 insensate outrages it became enormou,
e There was unprecedented destructio,
2 Unprecedented compensation is the log
cal consequence.
The temporary control which tn
. French acquire over the Saare valley
, directly referable to the infamous rui