Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-07-03
Enemy Cannot Be Trusted.
Washington Forsees Many
Problems In Wake OF Signing
OF Peace Treaty.

Official Washington makes no effort to
conceal the fact that the recent behavior
of Germany is the cause of serious con-
Germ and that the Allied and associated
governments will not have solved the
problems of peace in Europe by the mere
act of signing the treaty of Versailles.
1t is believed here that there are many
more chapters yet to be written before
that continent becomes tranquil.
First of all, it is now demonstrated
fact that Germany cannot be trusted to
keep any agreement which she may make
and, therefore, cannot be relied upon to
keep the pledges which she will give
when she formally assents to the treaty
of peace. Only constant pressure, back
ed by every present force, will compel
Germany to discharge her obligations to
her conquerors, on the one hand, and
her victims on the other.
This view of the situation is based upon
a series of overt acts which Germany has
committed, including the sinking OF their
fleet in Scapa Flow, in violations of the
terms of the armistice, and the burning
of the French flags, also in violation OF
that instrument, and upon the sullen
spirit of definance which is evident in
the attitude of the whole people of the
country.
Even now before the peace pact actual
ly has been signed, there is clamor
throughout Germany for its reputation.
German newspapers-onea after another
are sneering at this treaty as "a scrap
of paper" and are assuring the people
that its burdensome terms will never be
observed. 1t is being signed, some of
these papers have said, as a means of
preventing further armed invasion of
their country and as means of breaking
down the blockade. 1t is not being
signed, they say, with the expectation
that its more onerous provisions will ever
be enforced
Even the German Government itself
gave notice to the Allies that it would
sign Internationally, but would have it
known that there were certain terms i'm
posed upon il which Germany could not
carry out. This is just another way of
saying that there are terms which Ger
many has no notion of carrying into eff
feet, and the officials of this Government
have not failed to so understand it.
Neither the sinking of the German feet
nor the burning of the French flags con-
cerns this country directly. The Ameri-
can peace commissioners already had
given notice that the United States would
not ask for single German man-of-war
not even souvenir ship. The Americans
moreover, had advanced the suggestion
months ago that the feet be sunk at sea
suggestion which both Great Britain
and France had rejected. So the scut
ting of the fleet by the Germans de-
prives the United States of nothing, ex-
cept, perhaps. the privilege of witness
ing or arbitrating controversy between
the other powers over division of the
ships.
But the attitude of defnance on the
part of Germany which manifested itself
in these incidents is matter of very
great concern to this Government and
has brought about discussion of the
measures which it may be necessary to
adopt in order to force the people of that
rebelious nation to keep the faith.
Whatever measures are taken must, of
course, be left largely to the execution
of France and Great Britain, but this
country will be consulted regarding
them and will be called upon to give
them moral support if no more.