New-York tribune., 1919-08-23
feeling in his own country was not
such as to warrant that policy.
Presidents Course
Forced Upon Him

AOACCu OpOA AAAIu
Public opinion there had again
dropped into its old indifference to
European affairs. The people were
content with having brought about the
victory over autocracy and militarism;
and they wanted nothing more--or, at
most, the league of nations from ideal
motives. The American troops were
clamoring to 60 home; and finally, the
feeling against us was still SO strong
in the United States that nobody there
would have understood Wilson's course
II he had on our account caused a
breach with his allies. And so the
President was compelled to content
himself with little. He still honestly
believes to-day that we should have
got far worse peace if he had not
tenaciously defended his fourteen
points. He still believes in the future
of the league of nations. which, for
the present, indeed, has a fatal resem-
blance to a "holy alliance" against
Germany. To us it seems almost gro
tesque that our situation is still 80
misunderstood abroad as it really is
The idea of an alliance to protect
France from the poor, starved, demoral-
lied Germany of to-day appears to us
quite absurd.
These considerations about past and
present suggest their own application
for the future. The peace has been
signed and the war has been ended
with degree Of injustice that more
than expiates all our faults The
account has been squared Are
we now to adopt sulky attitude? On
the contrary, the German people must
go to work again and try to obtain
q revision of the peace treaty. Such
result can be secured only through
the treaty and in the league of nations.
Our foreign policy must in the future
consist Of an unremitting struggle for
the further development of the league.
When we are taken into it equality and
reciprocal treatment will be guaranteed
to US through our membership. Then
we can hope for an order in the world
which shall check the imperialism of
individual powers and shall bring into
being world economic system, which,
reaching across the borders of states,
shall bind the people to one another.
Such a world economy might make us
feel compensated for the losses of ter
ritory suffered.
l scarcely need to point out that a
German policy of that description
would of itself cause US to range our
selves alongside of the United States.
There the idea of genuine, peaceful
league OF nations is a living force.
There alone can the money be found
with which to give vitality to such
world economy. There the chief rep
rescntativc of the idea of league of
nations still has twenty months at the
head of the government In view of
MIR. Wilson's character it is to be ex
pected with certainty that he will con-
tinue with the greatest energy to carry
on the fight for a genuine league of
nations.
We must not, however, deceive our
selves on one point. In the republican
tion of democracy somewhat different
from ours Socialism is there in i'll
favor, and our "planned- out community
business repels every American. It
was not by accident that the peace
of violence imposed upon US shows in
dlvidualistic-capitalistic features. It
goes without saying that, true to the
democratic principle, we must set in
order our own house, as the majority
OF the German people wish; and they
will ever demand that our new Ger
many be anointed with copious drops
Of social oil. 1t does not follow from
that, however, that we need to use So
clallsm for export purposes. If we are
not cautious in that regard the league
Of nations will become a conservative
"holy alliance" directed against Ger
many. We must not forget how deep
ly we shall in the future be dependent
upon the league of nations.
Presumably the league will proceed
in such way that great credits will
be extended by American private cap
italists, banks, etc, to similar German
persons and institutions; but no ade-
quate loan will be allowed for the Ger
man Empire. Such procedure would
deal a deathblow to our community
business"
This question will lead to many
hard fight inside our government and
in the National Assembly. 1t is
enough to refer here to the problem
which might disturb our relations with
the United States, and for which
satisfactory solution must be found If
we wish to recstablish friendly rela-
tions with the citizens of the United
States we must convince them that the
old miltarist Germany is dead and
buried, and that our new Germany
has no intention Of assuming the role
Of apostle for a socialistc world revo-
luton. Without American help it
would hardly be possible to set German
business upon its feet again. l doubt
not that, if we pursue the right policy,
we shall get that help.