Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-24
CERMANY'S DAY OF RECKONING
is AT LAST lNESCAPABLE E
Her Actual Downfall viii Date From
Next Monday, When the Terms of
the Versailles Treaty Come Into
Force for Her


the Versailles Treaty Come Into
Force for Her
"THERE are reasons" declares Maio
General Sir Frederick +. Maurice
(which make it. quite impossible tha
Germany today should take any aggres
sive military action
"'The reconstruction of the German
mercantile fleet" means Herr vor
Schnkel, chairman of the board of di-
rectors of the Hamburg gAmeticau Line
"is made an actual impossibilty."
There arc reasons for that. also They
refer back to document signed at Ner-
sailles on June 2S, 1919, and subsequently
rat fed by Germany and sufficient mum
ber Of the allied nations to make it
effective for them and their former foe.
For the moment, America, is spec
tator in the situation. Considering our
recent mood the role is something of a
novelty for us. The Senate has been
squabbing about the future. The theme
| is of the free-fantasia variety 1t may
be developed 10y harbingers of gloom or
! prophets of cheer. Neither type Of
forecasters can clinch its arguments.
Time is a conservative chap. He
| refuses, even in defiance of the shreks Of
politicians to change his pace. And so
the effect Of league of nations is a
mystery-like tomorrow
Meanwhile, however, time is setting
the stage for an event of transcendent
magnitude. The curtain will rise one
week from today.
The supreme council in Paris has
agreed upon December as the date
ia the formal ratification of the Ger
man peace treaty. That day will be the
reckoning point with respect to Ger
many's fulfllment Of her obligations.
1t clarifies the meaning of the armistice
of November i, 1918. 1t proclaims the
immensity of civilizations victory. 1t
emphasizes the force of just retributon.
Since Carthage no such chapter of ma
tonal humiliation is comparable with
that which will be begun next Monday.
The public, it is said, has not under
stood the treaty of Versailles. This
attitude was natural. The document is
voluminous. During the long period of
negotiations, most of it's provisions, save
those relative to boundaries, the fleet
surrender and the work of allied COM
missions. We're imperative.
As the world scene became confused
during the season of anticlimax which
followed the actual fighting, it became
increasingly difficult to connect the force
of the treaty with the force of Foch's
armies which made it possible. Tales of
belligerent revivals in Germany abounded
The chances Of her Coming back were
often tremulously discussed.
A prominent American historian. per-
haps the leader in his province, recently
declared that, after a scrupulous third
reading Of the peace treaty, he was
unable to discover the faintest possibility
that Germany could be a menace to
civilization for generations to come.
AS she starts now to act under the
stringent orders of her conoucrors. the
accuracy Of this deduction will begin to
sink into the public consciousness. Deeds
are so much easier to believe than words.
On the principle tbat, ton for ton. all
merchant ships Of the Allies must be
replaced, Germany is denied the possess
sion Of single vessel of more than
1900 tons. Her shipyards will be busy.
but not in the interest of the Teutonic
flag upon the high seas. Geiman-buit
ships of approximately total of 100000
tons annually are to be delivered to the
Allies
At the expiration of two months from
next Monday the German navy must be
reduced to thirty-sX vessels of specified
sizes. Warship construction, except for
replacement purposes, is not permitted.
No submarines for any purpose what
soever are allowed. No military or naval
air forces will be sanctioned. During the
six months following December / no
arplane manufacture of any sort may
be conducted Within three months from
this same mOmentous date the electives
in the German army must be reduced to
100000 men. By March 81. 1920, that
number must be cut in half.
Two months from December | are
granted for the disarming of all the
German forts in the Rhine area. and
within a further period of four months
they must be dismantled.
Within fifteen days from next Monday
all German troops are to be withdrawn
from portions of East Prussia, part of
which becomes Polish, while a part is
to be subjected to the decision of
plebiscite.
The boundary Of the Sarre basin ces-
sion under the league of nations is to
be traced by December 8. On the same
date the commission to fix the boundaries
of Schleswig- -Holstein is to be organized.
By December 10 this territory must be
evacuated by all German troops. The
Alsace-Lorraine restoration was ncor-
porated in the armistice terms, and is
hence unaffected by the date on which
Germany's downfall. eliminates.
Despite what ill-informed critics,
many of whom have never read the