The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-06-19
THE PEACE PROCEEDINGS.

THE PEACE PROCEEDINGS.
The allied governments have hended to the German
delegation their reply to the German counter proposals.
together with copy of the treaty revised Count
Won Brockdorff- Rantzau has gone to Weimar.
The German government has apparently made up its
mind shift responsibility for final decision to the ma
tional assembly. 1t is proper The representa-
tves of the people ought to decide whether the treaty
should be accepted rejected By leaving the matter
with the people the Ebert government has chance OF
surviving which might not have if it should take re-
sponsibty for accepting rejecting the treaty What
ever its action in the latter cast would be confronted
Immediately by dangerous split in the population. No
one knows how the Germans divided exactly but evil
IDENTIFY there strong factions which demand peace al
any price, well other factions that demand greater
concessions from the allies, at the risk of war;
There seem to be fairly tangible evidences that the
Germans will accept the revised treaty. They will do
lot of frghtful gesticulang and enhancing at Weimar
undoubtedly, and perhaps an inexperienced onlooker
would become alarmed and predict immediate on
slaught upon the allies. But the Huns know they are
beaten, all their bravado to the contrary notwithstanding
completeness of Gemanys defeat and the inability Of
Germany to wrigge out of any terms which the allies, If
united and determined care to impose. Count Brock
dro Rantzau under no illusions Neither is Count
Bernstor who is waiting at Weimar to contribute his
share of dupcy to the German side of the peace nego
ations.
Negotiations" is the word however unpleasant it
to the Germans in response to German representations
The extent of these concessions is not publicly known
although there hints that the peace conference will
make the second blunder of attempting conceal the
text from the people whose fate is involved The size
of the German army to be twice great at first
proposed the reparation terms revised pebscitt
has been granted for Upper Sesia country belonging
to the Poles and stolen from them by Germany This
much is known but nothing is yet revealed regarding
the amount of the indemnity exacted, the details Of
the reparation arrangement.
We believe the allied peoples will count themselves for
tunate if the reparaton commission is left intact as
in the first draft, Independent of the "eague of
tions" and therefore capable of keeping the Germans
work paying their debt The reparation commission
der the original plan to have full discretion in fixing
the to be paid by Germany after gaining further
knowledge of Germany's ability to pay. This is JUS
and effectively working provision which should not b.
changed and therefore it is with uneasness that hear
repeated hints that the council of four inclined
cept Germanys suggestion (thnk of it, and fix the sum
total of the indemnity at $4,000, OOOO 900.
The peace council has given proof during the last few
days that shaping the treaty with view of Undue
ing Germany to sign it. This that the treaty is
not it before The chief movers in this
policy of relaxation have been President Wilson and Mr.
Lloyd George If they have actually weakened the terms
they must have conceded something to Mr. Cemenceau
in order obtain his consent Therefore it is quite i'm
possible that while there concessions to Germany
helping her take the seat the league of nations
perhaps other concessions, France will still hold fast tc
the reparaton commission and the means provided fo
compelling Germany to pay her debt Let US hope so.
Germany in the league of nations-what a spectacle
Is it not positive proof that the allied governments
heart expecting the league fall pieces when they
show this indifference to admitting Germany? If the
plan is academic experiment, to be thrown upon
the rubbish heap the harrassed allies are free
from American duress Germany might as well be invited
not, if it will help to push the treaty through
Well, why should America worry about Germany as
member of the league of nations? The only question be-
fore Americans is whether the United tSates shall be
member-and that question will be thoroughly thrashed
out.-Washington Post
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