Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-06-24
TUESDAY
Y......... June "a, 1919
OFFICIAL PEACE At LAST.

Peace with Germany IS at last an
accomplished fact. 1t is not Ger
man peace, but peace dictated to
Germany That It is a peace dictated
by the allies and the United States,
Germany understands at last.
The fact that she was a conquered
country with foreign armies of occu-
patton on her soil. was not admitted
by Germany until Monday, when the
alternative was presented of uncon-
ditional acceptance or the advance OF
the armies of the allies and America.
All along through the sitting Of the
peace conference. the Germans AFRO
gantly talked of the sacrifices Ger
many was willing to make, along with
the nations that have suffered in or
der to secure peace in which all might
settle down together on equal terms.
But Germany finally subscribed to
the terms imposed by the allies and
America. They are harsh terms. but
fully deserved, because of the atroci-
Germany to crafty her lust for con-
quest. Germany acknowledges fun
responsibility for the war and con-
fesses that it was carried on by her
without regard to the laws of war
recognized by the civilized nations of
the world. She agrees to pay an un-
determined sum as reparation and in
demnity, and to deliver W. the ex-
kaiser and other persons to be desig-
mated by the allies for trial by an in
ternational court and punishment. if
found guilty.
The last effort to secure ameliora-
ton of terms was on the plea that
the German people should not be held
responsible for the war or the manner
in which it was conducted, But on
this point the letter of Premier Glenn
enceau, transmitting the final terms
of the allies, is relentlessly clear
1T is said that the German revolu-
ton ought to make a difference. and
that the German people are not re-
sponsible for the policy of the rulers
whom they have thrown from power.
THE allied and associated powers rec
ogniZe and welcome the change. 1t
represents a great hope for peace and
a new European order IN the future.
But 1t cannot affect the settlement of
the war itself. .
10 The German revolution was stayed
until the German armies had been de-
feated in the field, and all hope of
I,v re hrl1
vanished Throughout the war, as
before the war, the German people
and, their representatives supported
the war. voted the credits, subscribed
to the war loans. obeyed every order
however savage, of their government
They shared the responsibility for the
policy .of their government, for at any
moment, had they willed it, they could
have reversed it.
Had that policy succeeded they
would have acclaimed It with the
same enthusiasm with which they well
coined the outbreak of the war, They
cannot now pretend. having changed
their rulers after the war was lost,
that it is justice that they should es
cape the. consequences of their deeds"
This is the inflexible logic of justice.
1t deserves special emphasis Just now
in order that the people of the world
may know to what Germany has sub
scribed. Before Germany can claim
equal standing with other nations,
she must pass through period of
probation and transition. The nation
that caused the war must expect to
suffer by far the heavier measure of
It's consequences.