The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-04-12
PROGRESS, NOT FAILURE.

The peace conference having agreed upon the text of
hat portion of the treaty which deals with reparatons
md Gemntes, it is probable that rapid progress
will be noticeable in the othes portions There is good
believe that the four principal negotaors will
not take the conflicting reports of experts the
commissions and bend them to conform general
scheme of peace. The details may not be all that all
parties could WISH but the treaty whole will be salts
factory
The roptrs of rreconcabe derences do not believe
The heads of the great allied not petuant
children to fly into passio and go home if their play
mates do not agree with them every point The blood
sorrow and suffering of hundreds of millions of human
beings call upon these men to do their duty They
men of conscience well of intellect They dare moi
desert their posts while there is breath in their bodies
II won't home till it's over there" the
exact words of President Wilson upon his departure fo
France and doubt that is exactly the sentiment of Mr.
Lloyd George and Mr.. Orlando.
The reparaton and indemnity question has been set
tied what appears be just and proper plan whereby
the enemy countries required to acknowledge their
sponsbility for all loss and damage to all allied and
socated countries and their citizens for of unust
able aggression If the word "unustifable not il
the text might be that groesquely inflated claims would
be lodged for acts which, while aggressive in sense
permissible in warfare If the allied and associated gov
ernments had intended to make Germany pay for the
tire cost of the both sides, they would not have
worded the provision they have done. Evidently th
peace conference is sticking to precedent when refran
from attempting to impose upon Germany the entire
of the war.
By the time Germany gets through paying for "un
usfabe acts of aggression she will know what it mean
to have inflicted upon Europe. The citizens o
France have immense claims against Germany for prop
erty malicously and unustfaby destroyed. The peop
of Belgium, England Italy, Serbia, Roumana and tn
United States also have just claims for damages amount
ing to billions in aggregate The allied governments hav
also suffered heavy losses from unustifable acts whic
they must against the enemy.
The report is often made from Paris that France is
reasonable in demanding excessive guarantees agains
German aggression 1t is limited that France thinks thi
favorable opportunity to gain territory that does
properly belong her. under the pretext that is
sary to safeguard her future But nothing tangible
from these reports and it safe to disregard them fo
the that the interests of the world conflict with
such unjust demands by France. The peace delegate
faithfully reflect the feeling of their countries in mos
coses Therefore France would find chilly reception
of her proposals of they should be excessive purely
selfish.
On the other hand, all the allies unite in according tt
France the right to obtain such readustment of bound
aries and occupation of territory will make another
prise assault by Germany impossible and also recompens
France for the staggering losses of coal deposits etc. suf
ercd through Germanys ujustifed acts of aggression
and wanton destruction Therefore is to be presumed
that the Saar valley coal deposits will be placed at the dis
posal of France part of her indemnity, until the
count is squared. The territory being German, will no
be annexed to France. The leading of France de
give Germany an excuse for another We may res
assured that NJ Clemenceau and President Wilson hav
good understanding this question: Notwithstanding al
the reports of disagreement.
There are some questions which extremely diff
cult about which the peaceconferees vouchsafe little in
circulate alarming of quarrels and possible rup
ture of the conference. Considering the tremendous
of the forces that bear upon the conferees to
duce them to agree, their silence may be construed
sign that they have actually agreed at least in principle
and bending the details to their will.
Nothing but the formal announcement by the four men
themselves will convince the world that they have failed
in the sacred task which their countries and humanity
have imposed upon acknowledgment Post.
Why not refer this Paris scrap to the league of nations