Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-17
BY FRANK H. SIMONDS.

PARIS, February o.-Whtle the
Paris conference is devoting its main
energies to league of nations, and
beginning the long and difficult task
of hearing and resolving the rival
claims of new nations which con-
hict alike with each other and with
at least one of the entente powers.
new influence and fresh cause for
apprehension is making itself felt
With incredible swiftness Germany
has achieved reorganization of her
domestic affairs and is beginning TO
make her new power and purpose
felt. 1t is of the utmost Importance
that America should understand this
new phenomenon, for it is bound ~
the succeeding weeks to exercise a
profound influence upon events in
Paris. Three months ago. at the
moment Of the armistice, Germany
was fat, torn by internal disorders
the spirit of her people shaken, the
menace of bolshevisn present in Ber-
lin and a score OF larger cities. For
the moment Germany was a neglgloie
factor, compelled to surrender her
feet. much of her heavy artillery,
this situation, and in something OF
the confidence of the conquerors OF
Napoleon, when the great emperor
was relegated to Elba, the victorious
alliance set about remaking Europe
and the world in a leisurely fashion
There was no longer an enemy IN
the field. There was no longer any
power capable of disputing the viii
Of the victors.
But in three months, with speed
beyond belief, Germany has found
herself. First. she suppressed the
bolsheyiks; second. she held an
election. almost Incredible in that II
revealed the old political parties stii
mistaken in their substantial hold
upon the electorate To be sure the
social democrats mysteriously IN
creased their representation, but they
could not obtain complete majority.
The new national assembly contains
a clear majority of members of the
old reichstag, who belonged to politi-
cal faiths which were consenting and
enthusiastic supporters of imperial
Germany.
Same Old Crowd in Germany.
This new national legislature, sum-
moned to meet at Weimar and not at
Berlin, disguised in all respects to
give an impression of the reality of
new Germany. democratic and cured
of old diseases, is, in fact, composed
of the same men as in the past, and
it has met, and in its very first ses-
sion given a taste of what is to be
expected
Coincident with all this is begin
ming in Weimar, in Bern, in all dis
tricts occupied by American troops.
a mighty German propaganda de-
signed to separate America from
it's European comrades, designed to
.a6 ~ RI %
champion of Germany against the
European nations she has wronged
and in the end enable Germany. by
escaping retributive justice in the
shape Of fndemnities for her wanton
devastation, to win the war. The
propaganda is this: I'VE Germans
have set our house in order. We
have dethroned our emperor and our
princes. We have become democracy,
in fact. and all responsibility for
the crimes OF the past must be placed
upon those whom we have exiled of
the oldsorder. It is an act of injus
tice. a deed OF violence to make us.
a new democratic Germany. pay the
damage done ~hy the wicked old i'm
clean hands and reformed national
spirit, asking to associate ourselves
as equals with nations which pretend
to accept President Wilson's fourteen
principles, but, In tact, france, Brit
ain and their associates are not seek
ing a just peace-they are seeking
to take our money, our resources and
our provinces for imperialistic rea-
sons, and to destroy Germany. The
great indemnities they would levy
are unjust burdens they are seeking
to place upon our backs to their
own economic profit. We alone ac-
cent President Wilson's doctrines as
he meant them; we alone ask a heal
ing peace. We are a new, pure DEM
ocratic nation"
Like Murderer Getting Religion.
It is as IL a murderer suddenly got
religion and demanded that all his
past crimes be forgiven and forgot
ten, since, under the shadow of the
salIows, he had embraced the true
faith, not only with readiness, but