Graham guardian., 1919-01-10

Rumania and Russia, and after
having done such intellectually
great damages throughout prac-
tically the entire world, while
their own countries have escaped
almost entirely from the ravages
of war, would not only be hid
eous injustice to the Allies. who
would thus be compelled to pay
the penalties of the wrongs
which the Central Powers have
committed, but it would be put
ting a tremendous premium on
outlawry and would, therefore,
be an injustice to the Central
Powers. 1t seems obvious then
that indemnities should be paid
not only by Germany. the princi-
pal in this great crime. but also
by her accessories, Austria Hun
gary, Bulgaria and Turkey.
Moreover, the amount to be paid
by them should be the utmost
farthing that it is possible to ex-
act from each of them without
consigning them to abject and
perpetual slavery.
In working out the answer to
this indemnity problem, it is i'm
portant not merely to see to it
that the Central Powers liqni-
date as far as possible, the war
damages for which they are re-
sponsible. but it is Of even great
er Importance that payment be
made, if possible, in such man.
ner as will render it impossible
for them to perpetrate another
such crime. In this connection,
it may be we'll to consider the
fact that the one thing necessary
to enable a country to make war
is not gold. silver nor other forms
of money, but consists primarily
and almost entirely in the pos
session, in addition to man-pow-
er, of iron, copper, and other
metals. Consequently. though
the Central Powers should be re-
quired to pay perpetually, on ac-
count of their debt to the Allies,
huge sums of money, or even in
the form of goods manufactured
from wool, cotton, or other non-
metallic materials, those coun.
tries might still be able, at some
future time. to again make the
world red with innocent blood.
1t would seem, then, that the
best interests of the world re-
quire that the Central Powers
shall, as at least part of their in
IDENTITIES, turn over to the Allied
nations of the world the absolute
and permanent control Of the op-
Grafton and output of all mines
containing iron, copper and other
metals necessary for war pur-
poses. Moreover, in view of the
enormous quantities of these
metals which have been accumu-
lated by the Central Powers for,
or in the form of weapons of war
and war munitions of various
kinds, it would also seem advis-
able that all such metal, in what
ever form it may be found, be
taken over by the Allies, together
with the mines, on account of in
IDENTITIES which must obviously
be provided for by the treaty of
peace now being negotiated.
While this plan of requiring in
IDENTITIES to be paid as far as
possible in the form of metals
would have the advantage of eff
fectually insuring the world
against further aggressions by
the Central Powers, it also COM
mends itself because it would
provide a substantial means of
payment without interfering with
the development of peaceable
pursuits by the people of the
countries involved.
A properly conceived League
of Nations would no doubt do
much for the peace and welfare
of the world. but it would seem
that the best way to destroy ut
terly the danger Of further ag
gression by the Central Powers
is to take away from them, by
the payment of indemnities in
the manner above indicated. the