The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-05-28
GERMANS KNOW
HELPLESSNESS,
SAYS SIMONDS
Play for Time Came to Hold
Support Of People, He De-
clares.
By FRANK 4. sIMoNps

ny fhAMh ~. SIMONO0
Copyright, 1918 by The Mcclure News
paper Syndicate>
PARIS, May 27.-During the last
few days the belief has grown in Paris
that before signing the peace treaty
the Germans will force the allies to
make a military demonstration. The
Germans since the receipt Of the peace
terms have been carrying on active
propaganda and agitation against sign
ing. Their purpose was to produce an
impression on the world and on the
allies that would lead to the modifica-
ton of the terms. This demonstration
recalls exactly the movement In Italy
on the Fiume question few weeks
ago.
Tactics Create Puzzle.
But, exactly as in the italian case,
popular agitation in Germany has ex-
ceeded expectations; and, conceivably,
the desires of the government, which
finds itself In the presence of gem
eral popular agitation against the
treaty of peace, facing the dilemma Of
refusing to sign and precipitating al
lied military operations, or signing
and provoking a domestic disturbance,
the extent of which 1t cannot forsee.
In this situation. Paris believes the
Germans may refuse to sign, adopting
the attitude OF the Russians ut Brest-
Litoysk. Then the allied armies on
the Rhine will be set in motion, the
blockade will be renewed again. and
when these steps have been taken in
the presence of this irresistible men
ace the German government will sign.
In signing, 1t can explain to Its own
people that it has bowed to force.
1t should be recognized that Germ
any has no capacity to resist nor any
desire to fight. The German military
machine is for the time being, at least,
powerless. In the presence OF the great
and splendidly equipped and NUM-
toned allied armies, the Germans can
make no resistance and any attempt
to resist would inevitably mean the
Transforming of parts of Germany into
devastated areas, like those in north
ern France. But It Is conceivable that
the Germans, so often mistaken In
similar matters, may believe that the
allies, faced with the problem Of a
new military operation, would modify
their terms.
Workings Of German Mind.
What Is much more likely, however,
Is that the Germans believe, first, that
to save the domestic situation, it is
necessary to yield to force and force
plainly perceived by the German peo-
pie; and, secondly that In thus yield
Ing to force, they will reserve what at
least can be regarded later as the
right to refuse the terms because he
signed them only under military
threat.
We are not on the edge of a new
war. whether the German signs or not.
New battles and new campaigns like
those OF the last four years are out of
the question. The occupation of more
German territory is possible, but even
this is likely to be restricted. Once
the allied armies from Cologne to Kiel
are set in acton, German capitulation
will unquestionably be prompt and
complete. But, on the other hand, the
German delegates may not dare to
sign and go home. The German gov.
eminent may not dare to face the Ger
man people, having consented to the
signature Of the treaty OF peace, in ad.
vance Of a threat Of force by the al
lies. Paris still finds many well.in
formed observers who believe that the
Germans will sign outright early In
the second week in June. The storm
OF denuncfation and threat coming
from Germany does not disturb any
body. There is full recognition Of the
fact that Germany can no more resis
the treaty terms than could France re
sist Bismarck forty-eight years ago. II
is fully recognized that what the Ger
man is endeavoring to do is to make
propaganda all over the world in his
old, familiar fashion, and seeks to en-
list in his behalf so-called liberal and
radical opinion of the world, but It II
equally clearly recognized that the re
suit OF German agitation at home MAJ
be such that the government, in orde
to survive, may have to go through
the motions of yielding to force.
Last Stage of Negotiations.
In any event we are In the last stage
of the German phase of the peace ne
gotiations. The German answer will
be in hand May 90 The allied answer
will follow in the next week and will