New-York tribune., 1919-05-23
Fruits of the Blunder

An unofficial but authorized statement
Of the Scheidemann government says
Germany will not sign, and declares that
the terms "spell economic destruction,
political dishonor and moral degrada-
ton" The Allies, particularly the
United States, are assailed as pledge
breakers who have not written a docu-
ment based on the Fourteen Points, but
composed "a song of hate"
1t is not necessary to debate the issue
thus raised. Scheidemann, backer of the
rape of Belgium, a judge of morality!
The most slippery and false of German
politicians enraged at mendacity! We
have before us another ebulltion of the
Teutonism, far more obdurate than
Bourbonism, which seems incapable of
learning and which has an unkillablc
Faith in the merits of buster.
Nor is there need to speculate over
whether or not Germany will sign.
"Der Tag" has not arrived-will not
come until May 2S; in the mean time
may occur a change of mind. Germany
NJ oiiS el4iiS was 90 oAlC oHO WOUlO lCNCl
sue for peace as she now is that She will
not accept the terms prescribed.
But it is profitable, in the way of get
ting instruction for possible future ac-
tion, to review at this time events which
occurred late in October and early in
November. Germany then openly asked
for parleys. The mere application showed
she knew herself beaten. But in form
the proposal was one to make peace on
the basis of the Fourteen Points, tenta-
tive formula that the President had en-
bodied in speech delivered ten months
before, whose details were generally for
gotten in the rush of events.
Two opinions quickly manifested them
selves. One was that Germany, by spe-
cially appealing to the President and
playing up his terms as different from
those of our allies, was fashion,
ing a wedge with which she hoped to
divide the peace table. 1t was held that
the wise course was to insist on an un-
conditional surrender; that such a capt.
ulation, while shutting no door to mag
unanimous peace, would simplify the
negotiations and prevent the rise Of mis-
understandings.
On the other hand were elements which
professed a great fear Of an "imperial-
istic" peace and plausibly contended that
it was highly desirable, if there was to
be peace of justice, to pledge it's de-
tails in advance. Germany, it was said,
should not be unnecessarily humiliated;
bar should be raised, it was asserted,
against an outbreak of narrow national
views.
The first reply Of the President.was In
the direction of taking Germany at her
bare word and exacting no preliminary
guarantees. Not even the withdrawal Of
the German armies was mentioned as a
condition precedent to negotiations. Ger
many, fully armed, was apparently to be
able to renew the conflict should the
conferences come to nothing.
The country protested so loudly that it
was needed. The later notes mentioned
preliminary conditions, although the
President refrained from asking uncon-
ditional surrender. The final result was
compromise. The realists wrote the
arnnistice, In military sense almost
an unconditional surrender, and the
other party secured the acceptance Of the
Fourteen Points, as amenoed, as the
political chart Of the conference.
The consequences of the mistake then
mace are now plain. IN the first place,
the writing Of the peace was DELAYED
Inc conference, instead of being plenarv.
was theoretically tethered and when
Judgment went against any country il
sald the Fourteen Points were f]o,,ted
Instead Of making for speed and har-
mony tne formula caused slowness and
ciscord. And every time the crv of q
violation Of the Fourteen Points was
raised at Paris Germany was served. A
foundation was laid for her pretence that
faith was not kept.
And as the effect among the Allies was
bad, so it was worse in Germany. Instead
of Germany being softened and notified
ner leaders have been able to keep alive
bad spirit. Germans we're told that
Germany laid down her arms, not be-
eause she was beaten, but because q
favorable bargain had been made. False
expectations were kept alive and q basis
furnished for the charge that Germany
nov makes, and which for six months it
mas been inevitable she would make.
The soreness Of Germany, so far as It
- honest, Is more intense than il she had
understood the surrender was uncondi-
tonal. The chief objection to tying the