The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-05-23
GERlMANYS GUILT FOR
STARTING WORLD WAR
CANNOT BE DODGED

TACT that the output OF coal In the non
transferred districts was rapidly increas-
ing before the war, and that there is no
reason to doubt that under proper man
agement there will be continuing in
crease in the future
"But should not the coal situation be
viewed from a different and wider stand
point 1t cannot be forgotten that
among the most wanton acts perpetrated
by the German armies during the war
was the almost complete destruction BY
her of the coal supplies of northern
France. An entire industry was obli-
gated with calculation and savagery
which it will take many years to repair.
The result has been grave and pro-
longed shortage of coal in western Eu-
rope. There can be no reason in equity
why the effect of this shortage should
be borne exclusively by the allied ma
tions who were its victims, or why Ger.
many, who deliberately made herself re-
sponsible for the deficiency, should not,
to the full limit Of her capacity, make
it good.
"Stress is also laid upon the hardships
alleged to be inflicted upon Germany by
the necessity of importing in future iron
ores and zine 1t is not understood why
Germany should be supposed to suffer
from conditions to which other countries
submit. 1t would appear TO be a funda.
mental fallacy that the political control
of a country is essential in Wder to pro-
cure reasonable share of it's products.
Such proposal finds no foundation in
economic law or in history.
"rhe allied and associated powers can
not accept the speculative estimate pre-
sented TO them in the German note on
the future conditions Of German indus
try as whole. This estimate appears
to them to be characterized and yitiated
by palpable exxagerations. No note
is taken of the fact that the economic
disaster produced by the war is wide
spread, and indeed, universal. Every
country is called upon to suffer. There
is no reason why Germany, which was
responsible for the war, should not suf-
fer also.
Similarly, as regards the population
OF the future, no reliance can be placed
on the data which are contained in the
German note. On the one hand, il is
sought to prove that emf grafton from
Germany will be necessary but that few
countries viii receive the immigrants.
On the other hand, ii is sought to show
that there will be flood of Germans
returning to their native land and live
under the conditions which have already
been described as intolerable. II would
be unwise to attach too much weight to
either speculation.
Finally, the German note rashly as.
serts that the peace conditions will log
ically bring about the destruction (loss
in Originally 'of several millions of per
sons in Germany in addition to those
who have perished in the war or lost
their lives during the blockade Against
the war losses OF Germany might very
fairly be placed the far greater losses
which her initiative and conduct of the
war have inflicted upon the allied coun-
tries and which have left an inefFaceable
mark upon the manhood Of Europe. On
the other hand, the figures and the losses
alleged to have been caused by the block
ade are purely hypothetical. The Ger
man estimate of future losses could be
accepted only if the premises upon which
it is presumed to rest are accepted also.
"But they are entirely fallaeious.
There is not the slightest reason to be-
lieve that population is destined to be
permanently disabled because it will be
called upon in future to trade across its
frontiers instead of producing what it
requires from within. A country can
both become and can continue to be
great manufacturing country without
producing the raw materials of its main
industries. Such is the case, for in
stance, with Great Britain, which inn
ports at least one half Of her food sup.
plies and the great preponderance of her
raw materials from abroad