Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-06
SET ASIDE ANGER,
/ IAMERICANSURGE
Thoughts of Vengeance
Will Prevent Justice, in
Peace Negotiations
NEED CLEAR THINKING
Food Scarcity in Germany Is
Rcal-Vindictiveness Will
Encourage Bolsheyim
BY CHARLES II. CRASTY
Speciai Gable TO Erening Public Led, YER,


~ Copprioht, 1919. b. Neic rorls Times Co.
Paris. Jan. Elm connection with
the statement issued by the Peace
Commission respecting plans for feed.
Ing Europe. have endearored by
careful inquiry to trace the line of
thought upon which those represent.
ing America are acting, and l believe
that the following is a fair consensus
of opinion:
There exists at present Z conflicting
and confused mental attitude in the
various Allied countries toward Ger.
many. During the war the public at
titude in all allied countries was one
Of deep hostility and a considerable
amount of hate. Since the armistice
we have been coming into a new men,
tai attitude that Is not yet crystallized,
but comprising various currents.
There is a great feeling of anxiety
as to whether Germany really knows
that she is licked. tendency to be-
lieve that every effort of the German
people is but camoufiage for malign
designs, and there is a general demand
that she should make an open and
public exhibit of penitence that Will
satisfy the Allied minds.
There Is also in the European public
mind a general unanimity or feeling
that stern punishment must be dealt
out for the great crimes committed
BY Germany. and with the suffering
that is going on in Allied countries
and the fearful loss and destruction
with which the people are confronted
there is naturally a very large amount
of vindictiveness
There is telso great conflict or
opinion as 10 whether the Allies have
been fighting the German people or
only the military caste. and the milf
tary caste having been eXcoriated,
whether, logically, we should be pre-
pared to deal with extreme severity
with the German people.
May Work Against Justice
One serious phase OF the matter is
that vindictive attitude toward Ger
many which is likely to create party
of defense, thus bringing about re
action and probably a tendency TO deal
on g. basis of sickly sentimentaity
rather than an absolute justice.
The saner views comprise an under
standing that no one can combat--the
fact that these 70,000.000 people can
not be eXterminated: that they eX- .
pected to pay large indemnities to the .
-hllleS, tHtltlOIt lIlts must ~
least be allowed to go to work: that .
we must have a stable government in .
this area or it will infect France.
England and all the neutrals with Boil ,
shevism. just as Russia has infected
all eastern Europe, and will never be
able to make payment for the destruC.
ton done.
The practical fact is tina. Germany !
ds faced with the danger of rcCru-
deScence of imperialism on the one.
side and the growing nerace Of Boil !
on the other: that eithe.' eX-
trerne will be equally disastrous to !
the Allies and that obviously middle !
course in Germany must be supported.
Ebert's government reflects the mid
die course. The Germans are having
4 general election for the assembly on
January 3. It is. therefore, of import. !
ence to the Allies that this govern. ,
lnent be supported. 1t should be a J
party to whom the Allie are prepared
TO furnish food and e:ve some measure '
OF economic life. otherwise the gov
ernment will fail and one Of the other
extremes will come in.
Working People Are Hungry
There can be no question that the .
working classes are aungry: that es-
pecially the women ard children In the
poorer districts are suffering badly thar !
the death rate Of infants is high. and .
that there is every evidence Of a r-t.
food shortage. As the Governments tends
10 delay. It's strength under the con- :
tinued agitation for distribution OF food
loses its exactitude the rirn are able
10 obtain more and the poor less Tui,
is fertilizlng the soil Of Bo,she, SIN with
, vengeance.
Only payment generally can p. made
Tor the terrible damage Germany has
made over a period 81 years
and it must be paid in in, surplus prod '
lct that she can export from her hJr-
iers. either directly in commodities or
indirectly from the moneys she receives
Tor the sale Of them
This is the only basis for .ud-.u.fie.
hat any one has been able go bring for
Fard and II is founded on tie cOuo"U-
son that the German people must have 4,
! stable government and that they mus
,e stimulated in production. This ~
lot be obtained BY maintaining b,uy-- b
,des, BY paralyzinC industry 90 hv.
3olshevism.
France and Belgium must nave .arg-
dms Of money from Germany, but they
'annot be paid If the German peoo..
ire not allowed To produce AND sci.
heir commodities abroad There - q
,arty in France whose adhprputs r..rE
hat German Industries should be la-
'tricted until French and Belgian indus.
res shall have been established that
The has stolen their cattle and lvrs-s
-