South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-14
WEEK BRINGS OUT
MANY OPINIONS
ON PEACE TREATY
Radicals Opposed, But Con-
SeTVatiVeS Favor Terms,
Says w. A. White.
BY WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE.

PARIS. May 9.-CBy cable to
New York)-The week has de-
veloped the opposition Of radical
Europe to the peace treaty. But un-
questionably middle class conserva-
tive opinion is for the treaty In
France only the monarchist news
papers condemn the treaty among
conservative journals and two-thirds
Of the socialist papers join the mon
archist press in denOuncing IT. In
England only labor journals de-
nounce the treaty. while the entire
conservative press praises il. A sim
liar situation exists i'm Rome and il
is evident that Pres't Wilson has lost
the radical support which gave hin
his power in December and Jan
uary. He is blamed by radicals fol
two distinct kinds Of things: FRS
FOR deserving his point Of self deter
mination of peoples in taking th'
Saar Valley from Germany. Shan
tung from China and Danzig from
Germany; and second for severity
of the treaty upon Germany
Cynical About Fulfllmcnt.
Detailed examination of the treat!
has left even conservative opinion
in Europe frankly cynical abou
Germany's fulfllment Of the terms
imposed The terms are too sever
for any nation TO live under for f;
generation, as Germany viii have u
live under this treaty if il is signeC
in good faith. Opinion in Paris
veers strongly to the belief that the
German speech upon the presenta
tion of the treaty indicated Ger
many's intention to sign. But Pari:
opinion surely indicates that Europe
expects Germany TO make this ges
ture Of humiliation and then tigh'
i'm the League of Nations. at the
court Of public opinion during the
next decade. i'm order 10 have the
treaty modified.
viii Sign. But
In other words Paris expects Ger
many 10 sign the treaty with finger'
crossed. For the treaty practically
exterminates Germany as a nation
Under the treaty Germany canno
control her railroads and waterways
cannot levy her own taxes, canno
control her imports and exports anC
cannot build her own navy 10 re
place her lost boats. Under th'
treaty she has no right over the ali
above Germany for German air
planes. no right over building rail
roads across her own territory anC
no rights on high seas. Her army d
reduced to a police force. her navI
gone. her rights in dye stuffs anC
phosphates taken away, her colon
les gone. and she is reduced TO ;
vassal nation confined strictly in tn,
geographical boundaries Of her rae
iaI occupation with even Austria anC
Bulgaria cut off from German al
lance
VIII Be Fifth Rate Power.
She will become "a fifth rate pOwei
of less influence than Greece If sh'
genuinely tries 10 live up TO th'
treaty and no one here expects he
10 try Yet everyone expects Ger
many TO sign. France is rejoicins
even while she realizes that the ges
ture Of humiliation is about all she
will get from Germany. But the rea
happiness of France comes from th'
fact that France feels assured Of d
British and American alliance
against Germany. II France expect
ed Germany 10 obey the treaty she
would need no foreign help.
A curious side light upon peace
is that French radical papers ar,
devoting more space today TO the
tremendous funeral demonstration
for the socialist killed on May day
than they are 10 the peace terms
The funeral called out thousands o.
red flag socialists many former sol
diers marching under the red ban
ner.
No Longer Follow Wilson.
These were people who 1--WE
months ago were following Wilson
about in mobs. They have left him
as quickly as they came 20 him
They recognize the fact that the
League OF Nations now planned &;
not 10 be "A revolutionary document
heralding a new order. but that il
will be the guarantee OF middle
class domination for q generation
under such revolutionary social
progress as economic pressure from
labor will demand. Hence European
politics which are divided sharply
along class and economic lines arc
likewise divided sharply on the
treaty and the League OF Nations