Evening star., 1919-05-11
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

~ AVE the allies traded principle for pelf
IL in the imposition of their terms of
peace uron Germany? In the rigorous
L and far-reachng treaty which has been
drafted and presented to the Teuton
delegates in Versailles have the allies shown
such desire for pelf that they have hazarded
future peace"
These are questions of the hour. and must
be soberly considered in gauging the efficacy
Of the DEGREES of the allied tribunal which has
been sitting judge upon punishments to be
inflicted upon the German empire for its per-
fdious actions of 1?14-191s. For if allied
statesmen have not been far-seeins and If they
have not acted along broadest lines with the
distant as we'll as immediate future i'll mlnd
they have undoubtedly scattered broadcast
seeds of future international discord which may
eventuate in untoward eNents,s league OF nations
no league of nations For human nature IS
human nature. and fundamentally has not
changed through the centuries.
HOWEVER it may be safely stated that prin-
II ciple has ruled. The eager desire Tor pelt
which was SO markedly manifest by some of
the larger and practically all OF the smaller
powers of Europe when allied delegates assem-
bled in Paris has been overshadowed. thoueh
close inspection of the treaty will INSPIRE some
to say that principle has sacrificed something
to pelf in certain quarters of the world where
the broad ideas of adjustment as advanced by
President Wilson and Premier Lloyd George
could not be fully realized through ethnoiogicai
or geographical conditions Taken as whole,
however. the treaty represents document
which should forever impress Germans ana
Germany as nation, that the sins of the past
must be expiated: that actions OF the past
were wrong and that they must not be repeated
in the future; that 1t is Improbable business
for Germany to pursue a dominatiney seinsh
nationa listic policy to the dis1nterest Oh the
world at large.
This is not only manifest in the terms of
the peace treaty distinct warning to Ger
many and the central powers. but the treaty
as it stands. even without amendment, is
distinct warming any power, whether 1t De
Great Britain United States. France or others,
that the world must be reckoned with at all
times and is ever ready to curtail ruthless ag-
grandizement.
X \ X x
IF the present treaty had been framed with
l the old balance of power and pef ideas in
mind such as have marked every treaty in his
tory to the present date, Germany would have
been dismembered undoubtedly. The many ma
tions would have gone into the peace confer
ence not with the idea Of in any wise protecting
Germany's national life. but with the idea OF so
rending her that there would be nothing left to
consider but how much each of the victorious
powers was to receive of the interna tional loot.
Victorious powers in the past never have been
overly ~merciful in treating with vanquished
enemy.. But owing to the steady hands and
wise counsel of Premier Lloyd George and
President Wilson, the allies generally delfber-
ated in Paris with the idea of safeguarding
world liberties and the destinies of all peoples
through the future years. Pef was laid aside
after certain reactionary elements, unenlight-
ened as to the school Of world thought,
had made a frantic effort to implant their. Will
upon the whole. They soon were educated, how
ever and today those statesmen who once con-
stdered that the treaty was to be a strictly
spoils peace became convinced that the better
part of wisdom was to follow the guidance of
LLOYD George and Wilson, If they did not wish
to hazard in future years the prospects OF such
gains as they would achieve
1t may be safely stated that the treaty as
II stand. comes nearer being one that will less
an future confict-evAn without taking into
account the league Of nations clauses specifically
designed to check turmoil-than any that could
have been framed and yet convince Germany
that she had lost the war. Even with the con-
v;ction that Germany should be punished, that