Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-11
4 Gcrman.1Iadc Peace

w HEN the German roar against the terms
w OF peace which the allied powers seek
to impose upon their enemy subsidies and
the German plenipotentiaries have signed
that document which their government now
asserts with vehemence will never be signed,
perhaps the German statesmen and the Ger
man people will be led TO reflect on the sort
of peace which they offered Russia following
the fall of kerensky, and the sort OF peace
they offered Roumania, when they had the
bayonet leveled at the Roumanian heart.
The treaties OF Brest Litovsk and Of Bukha-
rest were German made. They were drawn
in Berlin. and not substantial line in either
OF them was modified when they were spread
before the commissioners with whom the Ger
mans dealt. Not since civilization emerged
from the Dark Ages has one nation laid a
heavier hand on another than the victorious
Germans laid on the Russians and the help
less Roumanians No more ruthless brutal
or b!ighting peace was ever imposed than the
peace which Germany handed TO its defense
less enemies
AT Brest Litovsk Germany cruelty and
criminally wrecked the old Russian empire.
II dismenbered that nation. 1t appropriated
all Of 1t that it had any possible use for and
then insisted that half dozen provinces
"hich II might want at some future date be
given autonomy with German rulers II
opened clear path for German exploitation
by providing for a passage into Asia through
Russian territory. and after having disposed
Of Russian lands, held out its hand for the
last gold coin the Russians had.
The Brest Litovsk treaty was not more in
human than was that signed at Bucharest.
Roumania, after the collapse OF Russia, be-
came isolated from its allies. 1t was literal
~ surrounded by hostile armies Mackensen
had overrun all the western areas of the
little kingdom and stood with his sword
lifted above the heads Of a gallant but de-
feated people Germany and Austria there
upon laid treaty OF peace in front OF the
Roumanian government, and. declining to
listen 10 any discussion, pointed inexorably
TO the dotted line marked sign here"
The Roumanians signed. There was moth
ing else for them 70 do. And in signing
they were compelled to deed away the richest
OF their lands They surrendered their coast
line. They gave up the crops which they
needed TO prevent the starvation of their
own people. They sacrificed their SOW
manians nothing at all but a narrow strip of
territory an empty treasury and, what was
worse an empty granary.
1t is easy TO imagine what would have hap
pened to the entente if the German army had
triumphed, and if this peace treaty were be-
ing signed in Berlin instead of in Paris.
There would be no negotiations. There
would be no contemporaries. There would
be neither justice nor mercy. There would
be merely repetition OF the crimes Of Brest
Litorsk and Bucharest Germany would
brandish its sword and demand the last
pound of flesh Of its enemies
The sort of peace terms Berlin would have
o1ered the allied powers may be grasped
from recollection of the semoffcial declara-
tons upon this question which Berlin in
dulged in when about eighteen months ago.
IL seemed that its armies would triumph.