Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-04-22
The Inflerible German VIII


If we believe the food of assertions pouring
forth from Germany. the German delegates will
never sign treaty that gives Germany the
worst Of il They may have lost the campaigns
The national assembly demands "a peace based
on understanding and reconciliation" phrase
which we learned to know under the Michaelis
administration as meaning peace that would
give Germany the essentials Of victory, If not
everything that enthusiasts hoped when they
first started out on the great crusade to Ger
mamie the world. President Ebert welcomes
this declaration of the infexible will of the
German people" sheds salty. tears about the
burden which Germany is called upon to en-
consequences which must follow" on the
spirit of hatred and revenge" manifested by
the allies just as the kaiser and his servants
used to denounce the bloodthirsty allies for con-
tinuing the war when they could have had
peace at any time by surrendering.
pay nothing now. Prince Lichnowsky would
reject peace of violence, and declares that
| nobody can recomnence the war against u" y
The vorwaerts says that such sums as are pro-
posed by way of indemnity can not be exacted
even If the last sheet is taken from our beds"
The Lokal-Anzeiger regards the redintegration
of Poland as Shameless mockery of the IA
points" despite the fact that the Polish question
was treated IN that program more fully and ex-
plicitly than any other; and the Borsen Courier,
somewhat strangely identifying Mr.. Wilson's
political future with German aspirations, says
that the solution Of the Sarre question is "the
most tremendous political defeat that he could
experience"
These are ominous words, If one believes
them, But we have good reasons, general and
specific, for not believing them. We have
learned of old that little that comes out of Ger
many is credible, and this desperate attempt to
brighten the policeman who is taking an offender
to court is less credible than the rest. Part Of
it is quite obviously based on the German theory
that the president came into the war to save
view which even Germans can hardly any longer
entertain seriously.
As for the rest, the French statesman, quoted
by Mr.. Selden in yesterdays Times seems to
have the right view. When the Germans come
to Versailles and read the document that will be
the wrath of outraged patriotism. They will re-
fuse to sign. The German newspapers will back
them UP and will declare that they must not sign.
They will defy us; there will be talk of renew
ing the war and dying in the last German ditch;
or perhaps of passive resistance, of leaving the
allies to the terrible, though underlined, "conse-
quences."
All this will greatly promote the confidence
OF the German people in the government, the
government press, and the governments peace
away the peoples rights. Then, German bun
conbes having been appeased, the delegates will
scrutinize the treaty. They will raise objection
to details; and where these details are of no
great importance, where they deal with such
matters of procedure as, for example, methods
OF collecting part of the indemnity. their views
may be followed Certain changes may be made,
unimportant in content and short in document
of 10000 words And then the Germans will
sign the treaty, and will 60 home to their peo-
pie, pointing out that this that, and the other
point they saved the vital interests of Germany,
despite their enemies will to destruction; all Of
which will count heavily in the next election,
on which political persons may be supposed to
have an eye firmly fixed
Lichnowsky may think that the allied armies
will not fight, but we think that if it were
question Of fighting little more to insure the
fruits of victory they would fight. AS for the
Germans, their armies may be dangerous to
Poland or Bohemia, but they could not stand
up week agains the allied troops on the Rhine.
Nor will nation whose industrial plant is still
intact. but whose industries cannot be started
until the blockade is lifted destroy its own
chances of future prosperity by deliberately
bringing on itself conditions such as now pre-
vail in Russia. The infexible German will may
be expected to prove flexible enough when the
time comes