Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-02
WILL STAND FIRM
ON TREATY TERMS
Allies Will Not Yield to Ger
mans Proposals, Some
Observers Believe.
HUNS EXPECTED TO SIGN
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

Barring some minor necessary modi-
ications and alterations in the peace
terms. allied governments in Paris
will stand pat on the treaty as pre-
sented German protests against the
terms as they have been drafted after
long -dra wn- out months of work will
avail the Huns nothing. If the Ger
mans refuse to sign, then they refuse.
and the allies will take prompt steps
accordingly. They will declare the
armistice at an end. allied armies Will
close in on Germany from the west
and the pressure of further blockade
measures, which will soon convince
the various German cliques that the
allies are not in position to tempo
rize in the least. Two months after
the tightening of the allied net COM
mercially. financially and rconomi-
cally the Germans. no matter which
party might be in power. would he
ready to comply with the stipulations
the allies have imposed
These are some of the views eX-
pressed by Washington officialdom,
latest note of Count Brockdorff-
Rantzau outlining German counter
proposals. in which he decse~es that
the execution of the peace treaty
would be a burden the German people
cannot bear and again voices the i'm
possibility of Germany carrying it
out.
Fall of German Regime Seen.
AS a matter of fact Washington be-
lieveS that the Germans at Versailles
today are preparing for the political
holocaust that must follow in Ger
eft-Scheidemann regime cannot
last. Some group will be forced to
sign the peace treaty and it is gen.
orally believed that after f1urrieS of
buster, determination and mock de-
lection, the present German regime
and delegates will affix their sigma
lures. If it should not. the strong
sentiment among the independent
socialists Of Germany for such ac-
ton undoubtedly would find large fol-
lowing on all quarters of the realm.
Conflict between the existing order
and those persons who demand that
this business of war and peace be
ended at the earliest possible mo-
ment, no matter what the price, would
be certain. There is always a posi-
bility that the pan-German and old
junker elements might step in while
the more democratic elements of the
country are quibbling.
That the German recapitulation of
counter proposals is but one other step
Of the present government to fortify
itself as rnuch as possible with the
German people before signatures are
affixed is one theory that is advanced.
Count Brockdorn- RaHtzau might after
protesting to the last breath with
thfe4tesaing 70. mitigate the
allies decision TO stand firm. turn to
the German people and say: I'VE can do
no other than sign. for without signing
Germany must be- completely crushed.
even more so than under the present
terms He and his government with
the means they have at hand might so
propaganda Germany as to make
heroes of themselves in the eyes of a
great majority of German people. pictur-
ing themselves as men who stood adat-
mant but who in face Of an overwhelm-
ing world conspiracy against Germany
were forced to sign in order to save Ger
many. At the same time it is very easy
to convince the Germans that the mere
signing is but a hoax; Germany can in
the future dodge the exactions which
have been placed upon her and Illustrate
with more organized economic and imam
cial institutions the full realization OF
allied terms. Many officials in Wash
ington seriously believe that the mere
signing of the terms will not bind Ger
many, that Germany will attempt to
dodge and the allies will be kept busy
for many years in keeping the Huns
within the law
While many theories are advanced.
there is one which has the ring of
and that is the Germans
will refuse to sign. knowing full well
the result. in so far as occupation OF
Germany and consequent blockade is
concerned. But the deferring of sig
natures will give the Germans more
time to create the opinion among
many is being imposed upon; in other
words. that she is the Little Orphant
Amy of the world: that she is being
crucified upon the cross of allied am
bition. Her very certain ills during
the period of any allied blockade would
allied brutality. She might, through
such methods, hope to gain eventual
of stipulationS, figuring.
of course, that the allies eventually
would be inclined to give in on GER
tain points were the weight of public
the evil effects of continued dilly-
dallying over terms is not discounted.
Socialists See Solution.
That there is strong. well defined
among the now dominant socialists.
that best results can be achieved by
this maneuver is well known. The
socialists of Germany rely upon the
socialists of Europe for support. The
extreme radical socialist element of
Germany looks forward to escape by
aid of allied countries. but declares
bolshevism will work the desired end
and Germany will escape.
But that Germany under no circum-
stances will escape the penalties.
which must be exacted in the name of
is the firm opinion of
Washington officialdom. The bolshe-
visit peril in Germany is more or less
discounted, while any German gov
ernmental group cannot live with
out eventual capitulation.
Can't Be Borne, Rantzau Says.
By the Associated Press.
Germany, although realizing that
she must make sacrifices to obtain
peace, is convinced that the execu-
tfons of the peace treaty as drawn
ARE more than the German people
can bear" Count Won Brockdorff-
Rantzau, head Of the German peace
thus sums up the attitude
Of the German nation toward the pro-
posed treaty of peace in a note to the
allied and associated powers, outlin-
ing various German counter proposals.
The German note, delivered to Pre-
mier Clemenceau, president of the
peace conference, last Thursday, has
been made public by the State Depart
ment.
The German delegation nowhere in
it's note asserts that it will refuse to
sign the present treaty, but declares,
on. the behalf of the German nation,
ID hn,. tr,rt 20 I,