New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-01
League Means
Ruin for Us.
Cry Germans
Press lncensed Because
Ieutons Have No Voice
j" Drafting of Proposal
By Joseph c.. SAKE
Nc,O York Tribune
Special Cable Scruics


copyright. 1912 New York Tribune IrcN
DtSSELDORF, Feb. 23.-Thc draft
OF the league CT nations had bad re
ceptlon IN Germany, which now re-
CARDS herself as a kind of skeleton al
feast. The press OF all parties con
tends the league of nations is piece
OF trcachery that leaves out in the
cold or relegates to the position OF
Clrccrclla nation or as great i'm
portance as Germany. The press main
tains that the league cannot possib]v
guarantee permanent peace to the
world and necessarily carries in it the
seeds of its own destruction.
Germany, the papers contend, cannot
easily resign herself to being withheld
from a share in drafting the scheme
and having at best only the opportu-
nifty to take or leave it as it may be
presented to TIE Germanp eople.
Regarding the draft itself. section :
III particular, is an cyesore to the Ger
mans. They contend that it violates
the principle of the equality of nations
Sees Germany Isolated
These conditions, in conjunction with
section B., providing for the constitu-
ton of an executive council, are in
terpreted BY the Germans as amount
ing to the absolute hegemony of Ger
many's present enemies and as being
III fact not a league Of nations at all
but a continuation oftthe anti-German
policy Of ercirclement and isolation Of
Germany.
Professor Schuecking, vice president
OF the German League of Nations So
ciety, suggests joint action by Ger
mans and neutrals in a demand to be
consulted in the drafting of the
scheme
Exception also is taken to sections
16sand II, which provide for penalties
especially economic boycott, in the case
OF nation that may not even belong
to the league.
Regarding limitation of ornaments.
the reference to the undesirability of
the private production of munitions
and war material has provoked many
sneers at the supplies privately manu-
factured in America for the Entente
during the period of American neutral
lty. The reference to international So
cial and labor legislation is regarded
as altogether inadequate and futile.
The more aggressive organs of Ger
man opinion declare that a league is
simply scheme devised to stabilize
and perpetuate Anglo Saxon dominion
Of the world, while France. Italy and
Japan are allowed TO assist. with the
neutrals and liberated nations admitted
as customers
Terms Tame Pan Germans
The revised armistice terms have
somewhat tanned the spirit of the pan
Germans out for international mis-
chief making. Still there is no lack
Of covert attempts TO set the entente
nations against each other apropos
Of the league draft France, the Ger
mans say, is called upon to sacrifice
her liberty cf action and exchange q
doubtful guarantee for. the fruits of
victory
The press insinuates that America
and England are neglecting France in
favor of Germany because it is to
the AngloSaxon nations business in
terests to see an economically strong
Germany.
This crooked argument is intended
TO dish up to France the pet sugges-
tion that instead of vainly trying to
rival Germany's economic power by
annexations and amputations of Ger
man territory and thus become a part
ner IN the Anglo-Sax economic
trust. she would act much more wisely
by joining hands with Germany.