The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-07-09
EuRoPE,s CRITICAL PERIOD.

through chaos and emerge safe and free? AS Russia
akas slow progress toward freedom and order several
European countries give evidence of rapidly increasing
internal disorder which may bring disaster Italy and
GERMANY are in danger from different causes, while
France and Great Britain are trying deal with extreme
" difficult economic problems without adequate assur
ance that the plans thus far developed will meet tne SIT
uation.
| Germany and her accomplies destroyed more wealth
then they can replace if their peoples snouid De
chained to treadmis for the remainder of their lives
There is no method by which all the lost wealth can be re-
placed at any time and such debts as can ever be repaid
will be so long in paying that great hardshlps are ineV
table The facts surrounding PREPARATIONS are beginning
to show their true face to the keenwted French people
The immediate effect of their grave disappointment is
manifested by the French in bitter feeling TOWARD inc
government, intensified hatred of the Germans grow
ing caousness and increasing turbulence in the industrial
centers The Cemenceau may be overturned
at any time But there is indication OF reVoiuuoh IN
France such as the one in Russia The landowners OF
France are mutitudinous and thrifty. The French IN
teligence is clear The present outlook for France is
hard and bitter regime mercess toward the enemy ano
skeptica toward friends.
Hav is in real DANCE. OF revolution on account OF the
dire straits of the people and their utter disbursement
rbv fought the enemy to inish but they got neither
ndemnes nor their ancient boundaries Their war was
carried on with extreme difficulty because OF the lack OF
coal and STEEL They living on insufficient food'
The wars Cuferngs are still with them in large meas
e and none of the blessings of peace have materazed
Victory has been made empty word Across the Aur-
,tc are enemies STILL in positions dangerous to Italy
With such situation it not surprising to hear spon-
uprising in which the mobs take charge of food
supplies 1t will be miracle if the disorders do not
pread throughout Italy and seriously threaten the IN
tegrty of the government
AS for Germany the people have but one hope-repu-
daton They have agreed to something which they have
no intention of fulfilling. Their purpose is to nulty the
work at Paris as soon aand thoroughly they can dc
without drawing down upon their heads the devastated
word of Foch The Germans have given as freely
their neghbors to the needs of war; and most of them arc
agged hungry and desperate In addition to the depres
sion of defeat they are facing punishment in the shape
of lifelong taxation which, if collected would destroy
their hope of recovering their fortunes The recourse
which suggests itself to their brutal and dishonest intel
ects is very obvious they must evade their debt cheat
the reparaton commission, and when strong enough re
,udiate the peace terms.
The task that awaits the reparaon commission is one
of appalling completely and difficulty 1t cannot be per
formed without being supported by the ready brute force
of the nations that beat Germany. Rehabilitation of thu
allied forces immediate measures by Germany K
evade payment first by ingenious excuses and later b!
fat defiance Inasmuch the allies have no power tt
hold individual Germans inside the limits of the late EN-
pre, there will be heavy migration to Russia Souti
America and if permitted the United States Thus thu
population of Germany will be reducedit is already sew
aral millions less than in 1914--and the remaining Hun
will be able to prove their inability to meet the allied de
mands in full. That is of the early problems which
the reparation commission must meet Sealing down tn
debt means corresponding burden upon France, Bel
yium and the other injured nations
If the allies had power to fence in the German people
and compel them to make regular payments upon the
debt there would be revolution after revolution in tina
country and still further descent into barbarism if tina
be possible The German, however, will not voluntarl
destroy his country, for it offers him too good opportu
mites for making money. His hoggish instinct te
him that if he only repudate his debts he will fine
riches by quickly developing his countrys industry
commerce while rival nations still reeng under thu
blows he gave them.
1t is critical situation in Europe, viewed from an!
standpoint The United States in this crisis looms up like
Gibraltar This nation is not yet drawn into the quag
mire-W Washington Post