New-York tribune., 1919-05-08
world Safeguarded'' and
''MQst Drastic Terms"
Used in Editorials in
''World" and "Times''
"Volkszeitung'' Is Angry
Will Please Socialists. and
Democrats i'm Germany,
German Herold'' Saws

F'ollowlmg are extracts from tht
editorial comment IN some of thu
leading newspapers of the United
States on the peace terms handed tt
the German delegates at Versailles
yesterday:
NEW YORK
New York Times"-"Against the
German peril the world is made safe
that is, the all-important part of the
instrument. The safeguards are ample
the bonds which the treaty puts upon
Germany leave her without power to
harm her neighDors.
Germany forfeits much territory
the spoil of former wars and forays
The atonement exacted by the treaty
IS heavy to a degree that would have
transcribed all German powers of i'm
agination five years ago.
"Germany's admission that the war
was crime, and that she bears the
responsibility for it is made complete
by her assent to the purpose of the
Allied powers to put William Hohen-
zollern on trial. Moreover, Germany
must hand over for trial by military
tribunal persons accused of commit
ing acts in violation of the laws and
customs of war
THE punishment Germany must en-
dure for centuries will be one of the
greatest deterrents to the war spirit.
With that example confronting nations
that still may look upon war as the
path to national greatness and glory.
and with the league Of nations estab-
llshed and organized for it's work. the
peace of the world will be we'll as
sured'
New York World"-"The sternest
and most drastic terms of peace ever
imposed on great nation were formal
ly presented to the German plenipo-
tentlarles at Versailles yesterday.
German world power, in the only sense
in which it was ever understood hv
Junkertum, is obliterated.
The terms imposed upon Germany
are light in comparison with the terms
that the Germans would have imposed
mad they triumphed. There would have
been no future whatever for France.
except as fourth-rate country, and all
Europe would have passed under the
moral yoke of German military su-
premacy. No such fate is inflicted upon
the Germans. There still is future
Oh thls treaty, rigorous though thew
are, provided the Germans set to work
honestly to repair the colossal wrongs
committed by their former imperial
government and take advantage of the
opportunities that are open to them un
ger republican institutions They can
i've and develop at peace with a world
Inat no" IS organized for peace and is
devotlng its best effort TO the f,uaran-
tees of peace.
mere are bitter dregs of humilia-
t1on at the bottom of the cup of defeat
mat the Germans must drink. but thew
Tor the formation of veterans asso,
cannot we'll say that the treaty was
framed in fury of blind, relentless
revenge.
Taking the treaty in connection
with the League of Nations, the oreat
outstanding fact is that the imperial
as''c system winch has cost the world
so much blood and treasure is ended
for all time. 1t has gone the wav Of
tne feudal system. The Germans can
snare with the rest Of mankind in this
emancipation, which is the supreme
victory of the war"
New York Sum Harsh as were
the terms exacted of France bv Bis
marck after the Franco -Prussian war
the terms handed yesterday by the
Allles to the representatives of their
conquered adversares are a hundred
1old harsher. 1t is right that thew
should be very much harsher. There
is probably at present in this countrv
as IN many other parts of the civilized
world a widespread sentiment that no
punishment can be too severe. no
measures of repre- ession too drastic. for
the nation responsible for the immeas-
urable evils that have come upon the
earth since the summer of 1914
Without going to that extremity, but
admitting that no punishment can
be ,overpunishment for the criminals
guilty, OF the greatest crime in the
worlds experience, and that the inno-
cent in Germany must inevitably suf
Ter Just as the innocent elsewhere have
suffered through Germany's general ac-
qulescence in the crime of the wars
authors, it may at least be inquired
whether the penalty should extend to
generations yet unborn. 1t is easy
enough to say offhand that the sins of
the fathers shall be visited upon their
children and their chldren's children.
but this doctrine Of hereditary misfor-
tune scarcely has found place in in
ternations) Jurisprudence.
The Germany of the present has a
heavy burden of crime to expiate. The
Germany of the future has a tremen-
dous burden of atonement to bear.
Wise craftsmanship looks ahead"
New York Journal of Commerce. -
And now, to complete the terrible
awakening (of Germany come the die
tated terms of peace-far less drastic
scribed by victorious Germany to
the vanquished nations, but sufficiently
severe to cripple the German people