El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-06-21

cause the German people saw IN the
Il points any basis for negotiations.
! ABOUT the II points Like everything
else that president Wilson had said
and done during the war which might
nave influenced the German people,
the Il points were carefully sup
pressed by the German censor It IS
nonsense and cheap deceit that the
Germans are now attempting to prop
agate industriously
Not rriel<ed Into Yielding.
The military leaders OF Germany
prolonged the war 10 the last moment
before utter defeat When utter de-
feat impended. they then accepted the
proposals Of Mr. Wilson because they
had TO- They did not accept them in
principle They only accepted them
as the sole alternative 20 ruin They
were not tricked into surrender They
were beaten into surrender. They
could not have gone on fighting for
two weeks more without seeing their
army dissolve as the Austrian army
had dissolved.
Now the Germans are attempting 10
establish the idea that they could
nave gone on fighting in November
and only desisted 70 spare the world
further oloodshed- They are endeav-
oring TO create the impression that
the German armies were never beaten
thus preserving at home the old
citing abroad sympathy for a country
which was deceived into an unneces-
sary surrender.
Germans Had No Choice.
II 4ir. Wilson had not made bis
answer to the German proposals. or
If he had rejected them, the Germans
would SIN have had 70 90 10 Foch
They. had no choice. Their army was
on the point of dissolution and the
final blow was prepared. But I find
IN Paris among some Americans, and
assume the same opinions must
exist IN similar quarters in America.
a growing impression that Germany
has been unfairly treated because the
II points have not been Interpreted
in her favor. There seems 10 be an
impression that Germany was in a
condition to bargain with her enemies
IN November that she had made q
bargain and that the terms Of the
bargain have not been observed ~
the allies.
Familiar Propaganda.
But this is familiar German propa-
ganda. this maneuver over the II
points It Is the sort Of thing the
Germans did exceedingly well ali
through the war. confusing the issue.
the fact, then demanding
rights which could only flow from
conditions which were lonexistent.
When the Germans jumped overheard
last fail, they seized upon president
wilson's II points as a life preserver-
All things considered, the Il points
have been exceedingly valuable to
them. but they now perfectly shame
lessly assert that because OF the IA
points they were absolved from all
kinds OF responsibilities We have
long way from the time Of
the armistice, but II is worth while
10 refresh our minds once in while
on the actual facts
Germany did not surrender on
account % the Il points. She sur
rendered because she WAS beaten.
IAe German people did not lay
down their arms because Mr.. VII
sons program reached their hearts
or their heads Germany capitu-
lated because she WAS beaten.
There never was any chance that
the II points would be Interpreted
TO save her. They have not been
ard ne German complaints are
merest eyeWash. The thing which
the Germans are now mp TO ought
to be clearly understood.
Those people who believed that the
settlement OF this war could be made
in such fashion as 70 remove hostility
between the nations Germany at
tackled and Germany have realized, n
reading the terms Of peace. that viii
not happen They perceive. as j have
frequently pointed out, that while
Germany cannot pay all that she
should pay, the amount which she Will
have to pay will be a burden upon
German shoulders for many years to
come. They perceive that in fact the
treaty with Germany viii be an ar
mistice lasting until Germany has
discharged her obligations some IS
years hence. an armistice which will
dissolve into war IL Germany fails TO /
pay up in that period Seeing all /
his, seeing their hopes shattered. they |