Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-06-06

ship which put to sea and shelled OF
drowned its passengers and crew. anc
would have levied vast sums az
forced contributions. II the allies hac
done even handed justice to Germany
i according to the old law OF IAN eye
for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
these are things which they would
have done. They were not less than
the allied peoples could bear. for they
have been endured by the allies. What
impudent mendacity it is for Germany
10 say that It cannot bear the terms
which the allies dictate. when these
are infinitely less aid are mild by
comparison
The attempt to prove that the allies
/ have not been consistent with the
basis OF peace on which the Germans
laid down their arms is a mass of mis-
representations. The allies are prac-
ticing open diplomacy toward the
Germans, though they did not practice
IL among themseles. The proceed
ings OF the Joint conferences at YER
sailles have been public, the terms
offered to Germany and the counter
proposals have been published. They
have refused to debate with the Ger
mans in an open forum. and in this
they are fully justified by the uniform
bad faith and the time wasting tactics
OF the Germans.
The statement that In giving up
West Prussia. part OF East Prussi1.
Posen and upper Silesia 10 Poland
I'VE must renounce indisputably Ger
man territory is false for In almost
all OF this territory Poles are in the
majority. Notwithstanding efforts TO
displace them and create an artificial
German majority. Danzig and West
Prussia alone are exceptions. Though |
German by race their people in 1455
sought refuge from the tyranny OF the
Tcutonic Order under the rule of Po-
land and came under Prussian rule by |
the Infamous partitions OF 1772-95,
when Posen and "A large part OF East |
Prussia were gained by the same
means. Silesia was conquered by the
Hapsburgs in 1921 and was finally won
by conquest by Prussia in 1883 The
original wrong done to Poland there
fore justifies return OF these provinces,
and 1t Is required by the theory of
self as applied to the
Germans own racial census.
Security against another outbreak
81 German militarsm il as necessary
IN the east as IN the west. II requires
4 strong Poland with free access TO the
sea and linked with strong Czecho-
and a strong Roumania. IL |
s needed to cut of Germany from
political and economic penetration OF ;
russia, by which recompense for the ;
osses OF the war might be gained. A
powerful motive for German opposi-
ion to cession OF West Prussia, Dam 5
-
llesia is to make Poland weak and to
eep the way open to the Baltic prov I
noes 10 the northward. Won Hinden- v
urg and his army OF picked Pan Ger o
laas are at Kolberg. 100 miles west OF T
'anzig. ready TO dispute Polish claims. 4
nd the allies have weakly left 70 600 h
erman troops In Courland and Lii v
Dnia TO hold the Bolshevists in check. a
ar from doing this. the Germans have Ii
returned the Lettish provisional II
,vernment and have worked hand-il- m
md with the Bolshevists. IL the allies
Iouid yield on the claims OF Poland, C
ey would leave the way open for y
ermany TO control the Baltic prov 81
ces and to renew economic penetra- A
N of Russia. That is the kind OF sc
stice for which the Germans whine. T.
Inc sum III itNtiisiAicH 10 tsi
ndemned az excessive. though 1t Al
ght easily be proved inadequate. No M
iemnity for the cost of the war Is ba
ked. though Germany and the other WI
ntral powers as responsible for the lal
r. might justly be held liable for II,
ON the boasts OF the militarists
len they were still confident of vic
", we can judge what they would
We exacted IL they had won. No w
re PREPARATION claim would have sat to
ed them: they would have demand sh
all OF the victors' war expenses and D.
stiff penalty besides. for Germany tn,
5 always treated war as a profitable for
ustry. a
rhc falsehoods with which Germany tho
lies 20 the allies terms and the
MS OF future aggression which are
( concealed behind the counter
posals amply justify the other tv
ms Such Il hatioh Is not ut '" De
'ern colonies or 10 administer in
national waterways. II must give w,
dyes for the performance OF its OBJ
atoms Ii Is nation without rh
Tor. whose written contract has no
ding force. Those facts are cool An
sons why It should not be admitted
the league OF nations Until the
ri and purpose of the people have Tn,
nged. II win be an outeasJ among
les n