The Brunswick news., 1919-05-13
THE GERMAN eeoWl


did not reflect the opinion of tn
men of power in and out of offict
There is an undercurrent of sugges
ton that manacled Germany ma.
eventually sign this treaty at the poin
of the sword, but that it will do S,
with the mental reservation that
document signed under compulsior
is not binding on the conscience ant
that this peace of annihilation" (tc
quote the Socialist "Vorwaerts'O will
lead straight to another war of IRE
venge" and for German Irredenta.
The allied world will, if it be wise
reckon with this spirit. A nation which
will deal with solemn treaty, volun
tarily entered into, as a "scrap Of
paper" will have no hesitation what
ever in evading obligations which il
frankly warns the world in advance
it is accepting only because it feels
the pressure of loaded pistol against
its temple. If such a spirit survives
until the time for signing the trea-
ty arrives, the autographs of Count
Won Brockdorf-Rantzau and his as
sooiates at the bottom of the parch-
ment will be worth far less than Len
ines counterfeit mark notes which
are the Bolshevists' last effort to
give their "war upon capitalism" an
exceedingly direct application.
1t must really be comfort to the
allies to find some fight left in Ger
many. If there have been any mis-
understandings between the allied and
associated representatives., either civil
Or military, diplomats or "doughboys"
there can be no cure for it like an
open menace from Berlin. 1t was
the armistice that let loose whatever
stories we may have heard
If disagreements and the clashing OF
that was only because we all regard
ed the armistice as a sure prelude
to permanent peace. But if we are
to be told that even sacred treaty
" peace itself is to be openly pla-
2arded as a sure prelude to another
war, the allies will cease studying
each other for points of differences
and resume their wholesome discov.
cries in each other of points proving
d
= ideals and a community of inter
,st.
1t was the Germans menace that
created the alliance. Nothing can
cement it permanently like another
lose of the same medicine.
What it would fabulously repay Ger
many to appreciate fully and never for
! moment forget is the true and fun.
iamental reason for an alliance ofI
he world, which came into being and
inally drove her to her knees 1t is
quite likely that many Germans do
rot yet know why the United States
States flung aside all her other bus
ness, enlisted millions of men and
billions of dollars as for a holy cru
;aGe, as indeed it was, and went into
/ European war to crush the m Ii
.ary power of nation 5000 miles
,way. 1t was simply because in the
asst analysis we had learned through
.hree years of frightful war that this
,lanet would be an intolerable place
f German militarism won.
1t was not that we liked war. 1t
vas not that we wanted anything to!
,e got by war. 1t was not that we
lad, prior to 1914, any feeling against
Germans or Germany. Indeed, we
we're probably as a nation more
to Germany than to several
# the allied states. 1t was only that
belIigerent Germany made this
world not merely unsafe for demo |
racy but impossible for decent liv |
rl of any sort, and We set out 70,
he Rhine in precisely the spirit Of |
he frontier settlers who stop plow
DE and organize a punitive expedition |
g paiuct tho "hnd Ipdiapeo ,ub bov. |