The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-04-21

that case, oppose every conceivable
obstacle to its performance, compel
ling new efforts, raising new disputes,
seeking to postpone payment until
Great Britain and America are elimin-
ated from the continent and France
and Belgium stand alone in the pres
ence Of superior enemy? Equally
interesting is the question whether
modern Germany will follow the ex-
ample of Prussia after Jena, and evad-
ing the provisions of this treaty, as
Prussia evaded the provisions of the
treaty of Tilsit, arm herself for new
struggle and seek to revive the ira
ditions of Leipsic and Waterloo?
These are great concerns for the
future.
The weaknesses of the terms that
stand out at present are to be found
in the inumerable list of questions
from which disputes can and must
arise. The Saar valley solution is
one of the most intricate of modern
documents, recalling the Algeciras
convention, which was a prelude to
Agadir and a half dozen Balkan set
Elements, which led without delay to
new unsettlements.
Behind and underneath all material
progress is that supplied by the
league of nations. 1t is practically
the guarantor of many material facts.
while by rejection of all French
amendments it has deprived itself OF
all but moral force. Whatever may
be the point of view at the present
time, it is at least useful to present
the European view of the league of
nations in it's present form.
In both Great Britain and France
it has been in all discussions of re-
cent days subordinated to practical
questions and there is universal ten
dency to regard the understanding
between Great Britain, France and
Italy. which more and more takes
on the character of an alliance, an
alliance which at least has the be-
nevolent assent of the United States,
as the real practical force. In other
words, in Europe, the prevailing i'm
preston is that after much prelimi-
nary negotiation we have had recourse
once more to the old system of al
lance and balance Of power.
Many Questions Remain.
1t may be-as President Wilson and
his friends, who have a certain num-
Der of supporters in Great Britain, al
though few in France, believe-that
the league OF nations, when 1t is or
ganiZed and begins to function, will
take on a character and influence
which will steadily increase until it
becomes all powerful and the moral
writs which it issues will rule in every
land. 1t is essential to bear in mind
that this point of view exists and is
strongly held, particularly in certain
American quarters, and it is equally
important to recognize that it has
been on the whole rejected SO far by
Europe quite incorrectly
When peace with Germany is signed
on or about May 10, assuming the
Germans do sign, there will remain
all the great questions of the east and
of the south, ranging from Russia to
the Persian gulf, few of which have
been more than opened thus far. Only
the Italian boundaries and claims are
sure to be settled by the time German
difficulties are out of the way, but at
least and at last there seems a real
possibility that we shall be at peace
with Germany within a month and
that the main business of the peace
conference will thus be Equidated,
although the map Of eastern Europe
and western Asia will be still I'M
marked