The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-01-22

60 theory which might guide the DE-
iiberations of the peacemakers.
Each nation adop,s principles
which best serve its own turn and
enable it to lay claim to the greatest
possible extent of territory--especiaiiy
along frontiers, where nationality,
'11ethY.,TsN T. ~ l,.se AZ Il r Z
fyasph, tihre&SGts2)zS, be- ;Hse easeAo OF fFe5s
wars and where it is the chief diff
Guilty In the way of peace.
While the peace congress enters
upon its tasks the Poles are at dag
gers point with the Germans and.
Ckrainians-the Ukrainians with the
Rumanians-~the Rumanians with the
Serbs, Bohemians and Hungarians,
aid SO on
If the absence of any generally ac-
cepted criteria be the greatest obstacle
to a satisfactory settlement of the
question of nationality, the existence
of numerous opposing theories form
the greatest obstacle to settlement
OF the economic questions.
1HeFe are tNo preNaient currents OF
thought among the victorious allies re-
garding the treatment to be melted out
to Germany:
The first would like to isolate her
econom .caily, preventing her from re-
gaining the industrial hegemony which
sne so grieVousiy abused and the sec
ond would make her pay the largest
indemnity that can be exorted from
her.
Dramatically Opposed.
OBVIOUSLY. however. these two cur
rents are diametrically opposed to each
other, An ancient axiom in French
law lays down the principle that even
the crown loses it's rights where there
Is nothing TO take. If Germany is to
be made to pay an immense sum az
svSn eHA cd 20
work and not to set in motion that
iformidab BILE i strial orgs nization
which Europe has such cause of dread
ing,
Germany is not like America and
Russia. the two enormous countries
rich in raw materials that they are
| able to supply other nations with large
quantities. She is. on the contrary.
limited to a dcnSely populated area
which though possessing certain
amount OF various raw materials, is
iusufficientlr endowed for the needs of
her own population and therefore
forced to import enough TO make up
the deficiency.
Hence 1t is obvious Germany will be
able to pay in raw material only a
small proportion Of the damage she
has done and the balance--if the allies
are to he duly com pensated--must be
paid manufactured goods.
How is she to discharge her
dc BITS IL she is not allowed to develop
her industries? The contradiction in
volved in this question seems insolu-
able,
The same, difficulty is encountered
when we examine the future relations
among the victors- The war has shown
that any country may at any moment
be economically isolated and cut off
from commuHicat ton with the countries
that furnish raw materials or mann
featured goods and forced to supply it's
own needs.
The war. therefore. has strengthened
the protection and exclusive tenden-
ces in every country. including Eng
land. In every European country there
is p strong party urging the necessity
of it's becoming sufficient on to itself
in producing enough for its own needs.
On the other hand, il is clear that ex-
elusive and protectionist tendencies
prevalent in Europe before the war
contributed to it's outbreak and that
the entente powers are victorious
| largely because they pooled their eco
nomic resources.
1t happens that the views of
those maintaining that each country
own needs are opposed by those see
ing in free trade the chief gnafan-
Tee OF future peace and a source of
renewed prosperity
These are but a few OF the problems
facing us all. Tomorrow I shall at
fenpt ~ TAXA "a yeahsrse nreal E'iKarst
to discussing the more intricate de-
tails of Che momentous problem, which
10 ;S