Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-24
Germany Docs the Inevitable

THE final act in bringing to conclusion
the great world war will be consummated
at Versailles this week with the affxing OF
the signatures Of the official representatives of
Germany and of the various nations which
entered the conflict against that ambition
mad empire to the treaty Of peace, which binds
it hard and fast in the bonds of helpessness
for years to come against a similar attempt
to pursue its lust for dominion. Having ex-
hausted its stock of intrigue and diplomatic
tricks of deception without avail to secure
terms which would enable it in the years to
come to work out from under the bonds Of
economic restraint and begin over again the
work of rebuilding its demolished military
power to revenge itself for the humiliatng
peace it is now forced TO accede to. the nation
facing sacrifices that it is unwilling to in
vite through its National Assembly, yielded
to the inevitable and in a decisive vote by
that body authorized the new Cabinet to send
a delegation to Versailles to carry out its
mandate to perform the final act in meeting
the allied demand to sign on the dotted line
The new German Premier frankly ex-
presses the German mind with respect to its
conception of the obligations imposed by the
treaty as related to German purpose in the
future. The allied and associated powers"
this ohclal is quoted as saying, cannot eX
pect the German people to agree from inner
conviction to peace instrument, whereby
without the populations being consulted, liv-
ing members severed from the German
empire, German sovereignty permanently vio-
lated and unbearable economic and financial
burdens imposed upon the German people"
1t needed not this statement to convince
the victorious allies that Germany will regard
the treaty but another scrap Of paper"
with the solemn obligations it imposes to be
evaded with studied cunning for loopholes
and openly tramped underfoot whenever it's
recovered strength shall give it boldness to
defy its terms. It's latest disgraceful exploit
of sinking its surrendered warships by Ger
man crews left in charge as caretakers shows
the degree of treachery OF which it is capable.
No faith whatever can be placed in any
promise ii may make. 1t is as unrepentant,
as far as moral reformation is concerned, as
it was in the hour Of its greatest triumph in
criminal aggression during the conflict
But the allies have taken the measure of
the nation with which they are TO deal in en-
forcing the terms of the treaty. They have
made sure OF the spirit with which its engage
ments will be resisted by the now broken and
disheartened German people, in whose hearts
Unborn hate, famed by thoughts OF revenge,
will glow with deadly purpose through the
long years to come. And in writing the
treaty they have bound Germany so secure
in letters OF unbreakable strength that
writhe as 1T may, it will find no release from,
its heplessness. 1t will find no avenue of
escape back into militarism. Whichever way
it turns in the hope of escaping the vigilance
OF stern repression of its mad spirit it will
be met by the harsh challenge OF the armed
guard that watches its every movement. In
der the burden of just reparation inflicted
upon it, and obscrvant of the beneticcnt opera
ton OF the new world order by which GRIM
tnal aggression everywhere finds itself out
lawed and helpless, mayhap its heart will in
time respond to the rcgenerating influence OF
nobler aspirations, and thus chastened in
spirit it will, in sincerity Of conviction of it's
unrighteous past, seek to reinstatc itself in
the confidence Of the world by giving whole
hearted adherence to those higher ideals
upon which triumphant civilization has firmly
set its heart.