Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-01
Making q Just Peace

WHEN President Wilson went to Eu-
w rope. after the signing OF the armistice,
to throw the full weight Of his influence and
personality on the side of a just peace he
seems to have been moved by prophetic
vision. He told Great Britain then that the
enemy must be dealt with on q basis OF COM
mon humanity. He told France that 1t would
be the blunder of ages TO loot Germany, just
because the entente had triumphed. He told
Italy that small nations must not be choked
TO death in order to crafty the ambitions OF
the larger powers for more land, more popu-
lation and greater defense
In telling Europe these things, the Pres
ident warned the associated powers that
failure TO grasp the Importance Of Just
peace might plunge oil Europe into state
of chaos He reminded his colleagues at the
peace conference that Bolshevism had gained
n hrin footing in Russia, that it was spread
ing TO Central Europe and the time might not
be far of when its poison would reach South
ern Europe itself. These things were urged
by the President in public speeches and in
private conferences.
This prophecy. moreover, is being borne
ont by the developments in Hungary in Ger
many and Austria. Already Hungary has
been surrendered TO the communists Aus
tria is Permeated with the same fanatical
spirit, and the day seems near when Germany
herself may be engulfed. All this has come.
not as result of drastic peace terms i'm
posed, but in anticipation of such terms.
What may como 10 pass when the treaty it
self is spread before the enemy commission
ers cannot be foretold
1t is as certain as life, however, that il
the allied governments had not been more
moderate in the peace which they originally
proposed TO make with Germany, they would
nave delivered the central powers bodily into
the hands Of the Boshevist outfit 1t may
even come TO this. as it is, but it certainly
would have come to it il France had been
allowed 10 have its way or II Great Britain
lad not agreed with President Wilson on the
proposition OF permitting Germany to live
The President has been accused by friends
and foes alike OF too much clemency toward
Germany. He has been pointed to as an enemy
acvooate, and has been appealed to BY the
Germans themselves as champion The
chances are that Woodrow Wilson. in his
heart hates Gernanisn and militarism and
- 7sE1aiso as profoundly as any statesman
= Re world. Certainly there was no atti-
.uds Of compromise on his part when II was
case Of var with these things But hating
al his, az he does, has not blinded him to
he important fact that Germany must con-
uoC= % exist, continue TO occupy the heart
Ct Europe and De lived with by those nations
which surround it,
Il has e@en the Presidents hope to cure
The cancer, not aggrayate IT, He has insisted
upon dissrming Germany. upon making it
pay as far as possible for the losses il has
caused It's enemies and upon loosening the
ETip upon the small nations which it has
oFnlaIized' but this Is as far as he felt it
safe, from the standpoint OF future peace.
FOR the allies 10 60. His Judgment is being
INDICATED by every development in the
situation.