The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1919-03-13

/ over. Nothing was. included about de-
mobilization because 1t was ascer-
| tanned that less than 100000 Germans
are now under arms. Erzberger signed
| the new terms under protest, and when
he returned to Weimar he explained
to the national assembly that he had
no recourse. He was violently attacked
by delegate of the Peoples party but
: was sustained by the majority.
What seems to be worrying Erzber-
! ger most is the prospect that the peace
treaty will give to France the Saar val
ley, where the best of the German coal
deposits are located. The French
claim this basin should be theirs in
conjunction with the nearby Bries iron
region, but Erzberger predicts that II
it is given them Germany some day
will recover it by force In this, and In
his repeated protest against the
"harshness' of the treatment tie Ger
mans are receiving or are about to re-
ceive, Erzberger is speaking for large
part of the German nation, which
seems incapable of realizing that it has
been whipped and must pay fully for
its crimes.
The arrogance of the Huns has
reached a high point in ioui objections
to the league of nations, IN the Gei
man press. Some newspapers even
urge that Germany should have moth
ing to do with the league, but others,
while. severely crticizing some Of the
proposed statutes, demand that Ge
many be permitted to join the league
simultaneously with the other powers.
1t is taken for granted by the allied
nations that Germany will be admit
ted to the league at some future date,
but only after she has given sufficient
guaranty of her sincerity. AS Ptofes-
sor Larnaude, dean of the Paris law
faculty, says: Surely when Germany
enters league of nations She will
agree to sign every undertaking we de-
sire; but we know what undertakings
mean to the Germans. Did they not
sign a treaty guaranteeing the neu-
trality Of Belgium"
This attitude of distrust, which is
shared by all the allied nations. is rec
ognized as justifiable by one Tcuton,
at least, Kurt Eisner, premier Of +
lvaria. The Germans, he says, cid not
realize to what extent the allies con-
sidered the German revolution a pure
comedy, and he said that it will be
thus while the German leaders remain
the same as those who conducted Ger
many,s odious war policy.
The constitution of the league Of ma
tons, as drafted, has been received
with general approval in England and
Italy, while in France the prevalent
feeling is that it is a good beginning
for a project by which there is hope of
establishing world peace. In America
opinion is widely divergent, and adj
verse criticism is based on the fear
that the United States is about to sur
render the Monroe Doctrine Rresi-
dent Wilson, by wireless, asked that
there be no discussion Of the league,
in congress or elsewhere, until he could
explain it fully in the public speeches
he was planning to make in various
cities. Some of the more impatient
in congress, however, declined TO wait,
and started the music last W.ednes-
day. In the senate the league WAS a.
tackled strongly by Poiadexter, Eorah,
Reed, Vardaman, Lodge and others,
and was defended by Shafroth and
Hitchcock. In the house Fess o. Ohio.
opened the fight on the league, declar-
ing it s.lnonstrous" and filed with
vicious possibilities.
AS can be seen, the league Of nations
is not party question, but many
astute leaders of the Republican party
are urging that criticism of the plan
be suppressed until the attitude of thu
country is ascertained from the recep-
ton given the presidents explanations
Mr.. Taft, who has not ceased to be one
of that party's chiefs, denounces the
opponents of the league for another
reason-because he alreaiJ ardently
believes.in the efficacy of the proposed
society of nations. 1t is easy TO pre-
dict that, after a deal Of ralaver, the
Senate will give its approval to the
league plan, probably with formal res
ervations that will protect the Monroe
Doctrine.
OF those peoples who still are fight
ing in Europe and Asia there Is not
much TO write this week. The Poles
are being hard pressed by the Ukrain-
ians in the Lemberg region, and in
East Prussia the German troops We're
said to be fighting them under the old
imperial standard. The junke:;, ac-