The Washington herald., 1919-05-18
What We Gioe and Get in Treaty.;
Enormous Risk Assumed for Ideals
But Wilson Suprenely Confident

assisted upon her scheme for holding
the Rhine bridgeheads, for five. ten
and fifteen years, she was told by
both Wilson and Lloyd George that
American and British soldiers could
not be kept on German soil to collect
indemnities that will go. almost all
of them. to France and Belgium.
Accordingly the garrison duties will
fall upon the two allied countries,
Belgium and France, who suffered
most. 1t Is true that they get repa-
ration exacted, but they will feel,
nevertheless. bitter at what some of
their soldiers are sure to regard as
our "desertion."
withdraw Army.
Present plans in. Paris contemplate
the withdrawal of the American
army of occupation in the autumn,
Immediately after all our other
troops have come home, provided
the Germans have signed the treaty
and appear to be attempting in good
faith to carry out its provisions.
The British intend to keep soldiers
on the Rhine until next spring, but
probably not longer IL things are
going smoothly. Before ] left Paris
French soldiers, anticipating that
we would try to get DUR boys back
as quickly as possible were saying,
the German game will be wait until
the Americans and British are home
again.
Then Berlin will defy us to en-.
force the treaty. confident that
neither Anglo-Saxon country win
send another expeditionary force"
This danger appears taken care
of in the peace treaty. Germany
will be required to carry out prac.
tically a complete disarmament on
land and sea, retaining only forces
adequate to maintain internal order,
before the American and British
armies leave French and Belgians
to see the rest of the job through.
The great sacrifice we have made
in Paris. as pointed out, is our prom
Use to again at any time fight once
more for no material or selfish aim.
but to uphold the peace of the
world.
That Is what We give: what do we
get? What benefits are assured to the
United States in the treaty OF peace?
We are promised. together with the
other allies, that our pensions and
separation allowances arising out of
the war are to be paid by Germany
This will be an enormous item. II pen
sions are doled out as they were after
the civil war.
But in fact I do not believe our
Government intends to attempt to col
lect a penny on this account. Such
collections could come only after the
more pressing claims of Rance. Bel
gium. and even Britain. had been sat
isfied, and by that time. as the small
boy said. there amt going to be no
core"
But the enemy-owned property in
this country. taken over by the Gov
ernment. will. of course. not be given
back. And the proceeds OF sales can
be credited against this German in
debtedness to US for pensions.
Our only other claim against Ger
many recognized by the treaty, ex-
cepting indemnities to those of our
citizens injured by submarine war
fare, Is for sunk American shipping.
We have already seized ships OF ton
mage vastly greater than we have lost.
and the British 1 know have been de-
| termined that we should give up to
them the major part of our fleet of
German liners.
Though this point is not dealt
with in the treaty summary now
at hand. l think the reparation
commission will admit the justice
of the British claim. unless it is
withdrawn by the British them
selves.
1t is London's contention that