The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-05-17

manence OF all these changes? The
American answer has been the
League of Nations, but the League Of
Nations has no power in itself It has
no armies, it has no fleets. In theory,
it was to become complete within
relatively early time by the entrance
Of Germany, but in fact this would
mean Germany's voluntary agreement
to submit to terms which every Ger
man will regard as a sentence Of
death. / do not think any thoughtful
men can imagine that Germany will
accept the economic conditions of the
treaty of Versailles with any greater
willingness than the French accepted
the provisions Of the Treaty of Frank
fort, or with any less considerable res
ervation
We have, then, so far as Germany
is concerned, made kind of treaty
OF peace which can only be imposed
by force, for which execution can only
be assured by continuing application
of force. and it is purile to imagine
that Germany will abide by the terms
of the treaty of peace one day after
the force behind them is dissipated.
Need Stronger Guarantee
The league of nations covenant may
prove in time sufficient basis of In
terventional relations between ma
lions allied against Germany in this
war, and neutral nations. Between
these there is no outstanding differ.
ence, old or new, which might lead to
war inevitably, although the Fiume
question has supplied unmistakeable
warning. But when it comes to Ger
many, the fact is absolutely clear that
Tor period of time necessary for tho
fulfillment Of the terms of the treaty
of peace, the league of nations and,
more exactly, the United States, Great
Britain and France, must be guaran-
tors. In reality, we have only in part
made peace with Germany by this
document, if it shall be accepted by
Germany.
The proof of this lies in that sup
Elementary agreement between the
three great powers which is to be
submitted to parliament and to con.
gress. We have made France in this
treaty of peace executor of the will
of the league of nations. The French
army of occupation along the Rhine
with the British fleet in the North Sea
will be the sole forces which we shall
have to compel Germany to continue,
year after year, to pay billions of dol.
lars and turn over new ships to com.
plete the work of restoration. A ma
ton of forty millions cannot indefinite
Ily exercise restraint upon a nation oil
sixty millions. We have, therefore, to
give to France as our representative
to ensure the execution of this treaty
a guarantee which amounts to pledge
that If as our policeman she is at
tackled we shall come to her aid with
out question.
This, then, is the only settlement
and the League of Nations is not more
than a basis CT association between
victors and neutrals in the recent war
The theory that the League of Ma
lions would be an association of all
the powers, enemy and neutral alike
at the close of this great struggle ne
eessarily vanishes with the reading OF
the terms of peace l do not think
that anyone in any allied country will
regard the terms as too drastic, but
do believe that it is essential for ev
eryone to recognize that they have a
character, both for the immediate
present and for long future, which
vii place Germany in such condition
that her loyal adherence to the League
of Nations, carrying with it her vol
untary consent to go on almost indef
nitely paying just, but tremendous
sums is impossible. In very rea
sense, then, we shall continue in &
state of war with Germany for a long
time, until she has paid the price
fixed. AS she RECEIVERS her strength
the burden will seem more and more
| intolerable, and she will more ant
more seek a means, forcible or covert
to evade payment.
League Made Arbiter.
1t is in this sense, then, that / war;
my American readers that the League
of Nations, like the Treaty of Peace
does not in fact provide settlement
of any immediate character. We hay,
turned over to the Leauge of Nation!
administration of an incalculable mum
Der of contested territories, we have
made it the arbiter, the ruler, of man,
/ points where conflicting interests meet
and in each one of these the Leagu,
of Nations will find itself at once con
fronted by hostile Germany. Whethe
in the Saar Valley or in Dantzig, tn,
League of Nations authority can onl,
L
suppose that the Germans will willing
| ly accept either of those settlements
because both of them are compromis
es reducing the claims of the enemie
of Germany, is to suppose the impos
sible. Danzig for the Germans in tn
hands of the League of Nations vii
be no less Strassbourg than it wou1,
be in the actual possession of Poland
Polish possession of that diminishing
corridor which extends to the Balti
will be as permanent a source of irr
tation and anger to the Germans a
German possession of A1sace was t
the French. In one case, POSSESSION
was against the will of the people. 1
the other, it is not, but for the Gel
mans there can be no difference, sine
the Polish corridor cuts Prussia in hal
and destroys the consolidating wor
of Frederick the Great.
The Treaty of Peace, then-and thi
is the capital points not settle
ment. The only things that are SCI
tied actually are the transfer of tn
German colonies and Alsace-Lorrain
on the territorial side. All else, eet
nomic, political, and territorial, is col
ditioned upon the operation of con
missions of the League of Nation!
and upon the continuing solidarity {
Great Britain, France and the Unite