Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-03

Shows Ability of Democracy.
The demonstration that a genera
principle could be drawn to care fol-
so yexing question not only bred
confidence in the ability of democratic
nations to solve any problem which
might arise in respect to the colonies
but actually stimulated the colonies
TO a keener interest in the exact struc
ture of the league than they had be.
fore.
BY overcoming the colonial diff.
Guilty the league took on more pres.
tige with the mem bers of the delega.
tion themselves. More and more it il
being realized that while the settle
ment with Germany is vital, the rea
task is to build a new international
order, to prevent recurrence OF
world wide war. AS for Germany, the
conference in the last ten days proved
conclusively how little outside terri
tory her people can expect to retain
and how much she must forfeit as a
result of the criminal caprice of tbs
Hohenzollerns.
Whatever the discussion was about
the colonies nobody suggested that
Germany should get them back. Some
day when Germany is admitted to the
league of nations. after a probation
airy period, she will be able to obtain
an equality in comm erciai opportun-
ity with others in internationalized
regions. How far, how soon she Will
be admitted to the commerce of the
world depends entirely upon the
course of her internal politics in the
next few months. as well as the re-
suit of the definite Investigations as
to how the indemnity may be col
lected and reparations exacted.
Aim to Prevent Bolshevism.
=, - ~ +ba ,o,,r
Gil of ten representing the big pow
ers are anxious to impose the fullest
punishment possible, they realize on
the other hand the necessity OF CIV
ing sufficient stimulus to the Ger
man people to prevent a desperate
plunge into bolshevism. Germany -
keeping in close touch with what is
going on by reading all the Wire
less reports, as we'll as the continen-
tai newspapers, which print practl-
calIy every detail. She knows by TINS
time that the peace conference is
writing a treaty wherein her only
part will be to affix the signatures OF
her delegates and arrange the
machinery to apply the provisions
of the pact.
Incidentally. the American delegates
do not believe that former Ambassador
BernstorH will be chosen as the Ger
man delegate If his name is pro-
posed. 1 am assured the American
mission fully intends to make clear
that Bernstorff's signature to any
thing would be worthless. Germany
is evidently discussing the league OF
nations enthusiastically on the ex-
pectation that she Will have It's al
vantages soon. But unless the economic
and financial situation compels earlier
action, Germany will be on probation
a long time before the family of ma
tions admits her to a place of equality
League Held to Be Uppermost.
The coming week will be devoted
to many committee meetings, with the
expectation that the committee draft
ing the league of nations. over which
President Wilson has been chosen
chairman will take the principal part.
The conference thus far has been
smooth; indeed the general spirit that
prevails in Paris is a marked change
from what prevailed month ago,
when nervous impatience, as well as
unfounded suspicious on the part of
some European minds, as to the ma
ture of the man Wilson, and the ex-
pected opposition which some Ameri-
cans believed certain to come from
European statesmen. gave the whole
situation the aspect of a mutual I'M
easiness.
President Wilson has been found
negotiator, tenacious of principle,
but prompt in decision, even ready
with compromise in practical details,
and undoubtedly President Wilson
has learned that Lloyd George,
CIemenceau and Orlando were men
with the same fundamental desire to
see a better era come into the world
as he has though not always as
sanguine of the method of achieving
the common goal. On the whole, one
he. Eror tny -hs
month ago were not especially
pleased with the press reports of
Wilson's coming to dictate to Euro
mean statesmen are now saying 1t
would be d great mistake for Mr.
Wilson to go home unless he returns
soon to help continue the excellent
nrogress made by the famous council
~ ten which is really steering the
course of the greatest international con-
ference in the history of mankind.