Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1919-02-21

their national assembly at Weimar be-
came more arrogant than ever. Their
attitude was accurately reflected by
Ebert VINO, in his speech accepting the
office, said: I'VE shall combat dom
ination by force to the utmost, from
whatever direction it may ONE We
wish to found our state only on the
basis of right and on u freedom to
shape our destinies at home and
abroad"
Matthias Erzberger, before meeting
the entente chiefs to negotiate an ex-
tension of the armistice, conferred
with officials in Berlin, and it was said
they determined that he should de-
mand that the allies recognize the new
German government.
All this, and the fact that the enemy
countries were preserving enough war
material to permit them to equip
quickly an army of 100000 men, had
full effect on the supreme war coun-
ell when it decided on conditions Of
renewal of the armistice. The mill
tary members and the newly added
economic members agreed on the
terms, which are designed to place
Germany in such a situation that she
cannot renew military operations. The
German authorities were called on to
furnish full information of the war
material of all kinds in their posses
sion. The council also decided, ac-
cording to one correspondent ito make
Germany realize that WI are the con-
querors and that it is not a white
peace that we are seeking to impose
on her."
According to reliable information.
the armistice Is renewed for a very
brief time, the allies reserving the
right to suspend it if Germany fails
to carry out the new clauses, which in
clude the cessation of hostilities
against the Poles. Meanwhile a spe-
cial commission is to draw up armis-
tice terms to last until the peace
treaty is signed. These terms will
provide for the rehabilitation of the
German army and the disarmament of
the nation under the supervision of the
allies. The German government, it
was said, was given to understand
plainly that if it was recalcitrant the
resumption of the war by the allies
was by no means out of the question.
The firm attitude of the supreme wal
council possibly was due in some
measure to an impressive speech by
Premier Clemenceau, in which he
showed the council the necessity Of
taking all precautions against the
treacAerous Huns. In this he was sup
ported by President Wilson.
If Germany submits and acts in ap-
parent good faith, 1t is likely some
economic measures will be adopted
that would facilitate the resumption
of her peace activities to a consider
able extent. But if this goes too far
France will have another Il OF
complaint, for both she and Belgium
argue, with seeming justice, that their
industries, destroyed by the Huns.
should be restored before the Germans
are permitted to resume commercial re-
lations and capture the markets.
Among the interesting developments
of the week was the dispute between
China and Japan, relating to the dis
position of Shantung province and
Tsingtao and in general the conces-
sions which China had been forced to
grant to Germany. These, 1t appears,
Japan is trying to obtain for herself,
and China relies on the peace confer
ence for protection. The council of the
five great powers asked that all secret
agreements made ~bysJapan and China
with each other and other nations
since the beginning of the war be SUBJ
mitted to 1t. This was in accord with
the desires of the Chinese, and the
Japanese government complied with
the demand.
monkeywrench into the machinery by
the fat statement that they intended
to hang onto the Caroline and Mar
shall islands, which they took from
Germany, Notwithstanding the ex-
pressed will of the peace conference
that all the captured colonies should
be governed by mandatories of the
League Of Nations. The outcome of
this is uncertain.
The prospects of the proposed meet
ing of Russian factions and advisers