Evening star., 1919-05-11
Principle Triumphant Over Pelf
In Peace Terms as Finally Drawn

she should be made to pay In full, the allied
statesmen from the first have kept an eye
the Germany of the future and have been
mindful OF the fact that steady-gong Ger
many essential the progress and
economic prosperity of Europe, The elimina-
ton, as much possible of punishments which
would tend to be the breeding points of future
German discomfort and initiate "Germana
irredentA' movement looking toward the
reclamation of the old limits of the nation
has been large consideration in the framing
OF the pact.
THE text of the treaty appears to be rigorous
in the extreme. but closer inspection proves.
notwiths landing the walls of Germany the
contrary 10 be true that the peace is fair one,
just one Germany is punished. nationalties
are restored and the Hun grip upon the world
is removed. Germany Is denuded of 1015.607
square miles of territory, and she must depend
upon her soil for future growth Restric-
tions are placed upon her military and val
power that it is question whether Germany
ever can restore her old-time military glory.
Sweeping economic and financial terms are inn
posed. but these designed chiefly toward
making Germany pay her just debts to cviliza-
ton and to the restoration of the things sKe
has destroyed. If territories have been taken
away from Germany they have been territories
oftenti,es obtained through unscrupulous
methods. Removal of German grip Is but
movSng the tentacles of an .overgreedy world
octopus. which ready to crush out the life
of the, world for the realization of selfish
tional ends
The restoration of Alsace and Lorraine
taken for granted. These people since 1871
have suffered few people suffer amidst
alien environment and calling restrictions for
eign to their nature. Alsace and Lorraine were
torn from France. and that France should have
them returned possibly even few honest Ger
will doubt
The question of the saar however, is one
hast he @ France,
from strictly racial standpoint. has no claim
.upon the Saar. This section will be inter-
nationa4ized for the benefit of. French industries
which,, dependent upon large coal supplies.
would otherwise stand idle until the Lens fields
are restored In northern France. Early restora-s
tion there is absolutely barred by the dev1iish
work of the Huns in flooding them and destroy
ine their workings. The Saar settlement is
strictly one in behalf of France, and, though
the Saar region is fnternationalized, with pro-
vision for pebiscite in fifteen years, few there
are who expect this territory ever to revert to
Germany Principle removes the faint Of pelf
simply for the reason that control of these
coal H1lds is only just payment for the things
that France suffered in other regions by virtue
of Germany's INSCRIPTIONS actions.
UxEMBURG is removed from calling
l. economic and financial alliances with the
Germans, affiliation which has been dietasteful
ing population ..-..
The districts of Malmedy go to Belgium.
but az these were torn away from Belgium in
the thirties by the Germans, justice is re-
warded again. There be no taint of pelf
in this adjustment, for the reason that Bel
gium is but getting that to which she is rightly
entitled.
In the settlement of the western bouhda ries.
had Frances suggestion been followed, pelf un-
doubtedIy would have ruled supreme, with
Justification whatever except national defense.
The left. bank of the Rhine for it's whole
length. came dangerously near being taken
away from Germany completely. At one time
the French had strong backing in the peace
conference for this settlement. but the Lloyd
George-Wilson coalition again stepped in. and.
after pointing out the dangers to the creation
of .Germania irredenta" issue here, finally won
France with promises of support to abandon
such claims. with the naturalization Of great
strips Of territory to the east of the Rhine,
France has little to fear from the future, par