El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-03-05

H. sIMONDS.
hands nor would the, warning be
I similarly prompt
II will be seem then. that the
treaty Of Versailles substantially
hOnored the just claims Of Britain ?
in the matter Of security and rep
nrations. but that IL did moth
ing Ike as much for France
J Many EnElishmen, speaking with
great authority and from recognized
conviction, assert that the economic
I phases Of the treaty Of Versailles in
vQive the economic ruin Of Germany
| and assert that this ruin viii involve
all of Europe and not ilpossibiy the
[ United States They, therefore, de-
mand that the treaty shall be revised
/ in favor Of Germany, not out Of i'm
mediate tenderness for Germany, but
10 save the economic, the political
and the moral fabric Of European
civilization
American Aid Necessary.
And il is at this point that America
becomes involved. These Enelishmen
argue that revision OF the treaty can
only be had IL America uses her great
: financial and consequent moral in
: flunce to force revision Moreover,
they argue that the first step America
must take is to forgive her recent
associates in the war their indebted
ness TO her Of $4,000. 900, 600. To
start with. then. the United States
shape Of Cancelled Indebtedness. which
viii, IN the end. reduce Belgian and
French claims upon Germany by this
amount and thus open the way to a
salvation OF Germany, economically
Having taken this first step. the
second for the United States follows
logically. We shall still hold the
purse strings and we may. by using
future loans as a stick 20 fOrtify our
moral authority, demand that all the
and Belgium, who are most concerned,
reduce their claims for money repara-
ton from Germany to such a total
as VIII be within German resources
70 pay and remain not only solvent.
but useful unit IN European
economic political and moral society.
But the money phase is only one
circumstance we are, in addition, 20
undertake 70 compel France. italy and
Poland anc other European nations
20 modify their territorial as well as
their economic demands.
Must Abandon CIaims.
Now this is the critical point. We
are 10 tell the French 20 abandon ali
their territorial claims N The Sarre
basin. we are TO set our faces AGAINST
their renewed demand for ne PL51e
barrier that Is, we are 20 compel
France TO resign the essential e1e-
ments In her claim to the upper
sileslan region, where the popula-
NA-NAA - 4AA1lAH anu we are TO NaEa
equally drastic steps In the case Of
Italy. not merely In the Adriatic, but
IN the upper IrentinO region. where
the population Is German, but the
country itself is on the Italian side
OF the Alps and has been the pathway
OF invasion into Italy since time i'm
memorial
This means only one ding. tt
means that the United states il
70 undertake TO compel the
nd -
balance Of the European ruces
which fought Germany, to sur
render not merely their claims for
repnrutiOns but their demands Tor
security in the Interests Of the
preservation Of European civiliza-
tpns the major part Of an these
sacrifices Including cur own SI0,-
o0u-oO0IoOO, 10 be dedicated 10 the
reatoratioH Of Germany and the
rescue Of that country from the
consequences Of her aftuck upon
European civilization.
So much for the British PROPOSAL
now Tor the French. The French
base their claim for a revision Of the
treaty OF Versailles on the obvious
fact that Il has not provided them
with any real security and the pros
poets OF reparation grow less and
less with each succeeding week.
In the face Of these circumstances. [
Wnat is American duty, what must be
american policy2 Obviously, b viii
not do TO take the British side Of the
controversy. We cannot sanction the
British demand for security and
reparation and reject the demand OF
the French and the Italian, which
rest on a sOunder basis
Danger Of Enmify.
nor can we assail both the British
and the French as wei as the Italian
claims Tor security, expressed for the
British in the terms Of German
colonies, for the French in the Rhine
barrier and for the Italians in he
bulwark Of the Alps, without driving
very large sections Of popular obiu-
OF these countries Into common accord
against US.
Thens consider the situation OF the
United states II, tomorrow, the gov
eminent should consent 10 the sur
render OF the S10.00O,0 900 Indebted
ness and agree TO make new loans
ana then, on the strength Of the in
OF the purse strings, II should under
take 70 compel remaking OF the
treaty Of Versailles Ii would have
70 begin BY declaring that all the
acquisitions Of the several European
nations, resulting from the victory.
must again be laid on the table for
a revision, subject to American ap-
What would be the cOnse-
euencef WAC can mistake ftf
TIE French would give M the
RHINE barrier, IL we once more
agreed 20 substitute our army.
me Poles would come back from
the White Hussian territory. II
we would guarantee their ethufe
frontier and promise them IL
nancini assistance. Even the ItHl-