Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-01-04
DIVISION AND EVASION
An interesting and perplexinc feature Of

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national situation is the movement, which has gained
empires into small independent states. And we are con-
fronted with the question of how far the disintegration
of Germany and Of Austria, If it is allowed to proceed,
shall be permitted to relieve the people of the districts
affected of the burden of war costs which, it is assumed,
must be assessed against somebody.
This question, it seems, can scarcely arise in connec-
ton with the new nations which are to be created out OF
racial groups which have virtually been held in bondage,
and which are to be relieved by the action of the world
powers. Poles, Czecho-slovaks and Jugo slavs are to- be
assured their independence, their national integrity, and
the occupation of territory appropriate to their. needs.
And, notwithstanding the fact that the territory occu-
pied by these races was at the beginning Of the war in
cluded in Germany and Austria Hungary-with the ex-
ception Of that part of Poland. which was under Russian
5urisdictlon-and that the men Of these groups served in
the German or Austrian armies, it will scarcely be main
tanned that any part Of the war debt assessed against the
Central Powers will be apportioned to these newly Gre
ated nations. Their situation resembles that of Alsace-
Lorraine, whose territory and people were under German
rule, and whose men were forced to serve in the German
armies. Yet the people of Alsace-Lorraine will not be
expected to pay any part of the German war debt. They
have paid too heavily already.
But a Magyar republic has been proclaimed in Hun
gary, and another republic in German Austria. Eisner
and his party insist that Bavaria shall be a new state in
dependent of the former German empire. There is a
movement for the creation Of a new state out Of the en-
tire sFoup OF Rhine provinces. independence has been,
suggested for saxony. If all these projects should be car
ried out, Prussia would remain as the sole residuary
lesatee Of the old German and Austro- Hungarian en-
pires. The seeding groups would naturally maintain
that as they have abandoned Germany they cannot be
held for Germany's debts. The whole load would rest on
Prussia, and the logical course then would be for all the
rest Of Prussia to socede from the duchv ~ p I.ondanh,,.~
leaving that little province to carry the debt and the
odium, and to go through bankruptcy in whatever man
ner the Allies choose to prescribe.
It is evident that this win not do. Those who are
really responsible for the war cannot evade their respon-
stbility By going through a process Of disintesration. And
responsibility rests not alone on the kaiser and the gem
erals and politicians who surround him. It Is shared by
the people of Germany, Of Austria ana Of Hungary. It
rests especially on the people Of Germany, for there,
more strongly than elsewhere, was shown the lust Of con-
quest, and today the dominant note in all the expressions
that come from Germany il not Of regret that Germany
vas wrone, but Of disappointment that she did not sue
lesed.
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