The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-03-16
HUN REVOLT WAS !
NO SURPRISE, SAY
CAPITAL OFFICIALS
Prediction of Chaos in Euro
pean Politics Comes True.
Key to Situation Said To Be
With Russia,
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Correspondent OF The News
ScimItar1

Scimltar.)
II, WASHINGTON. March 16.-Plenty of
-neory but not much fact That's the
most that can be said thus far con-
sernlng Washington's opinion of the
new German revolution.
where the wish is father to the
thought, the upheaval in Germany is
regarded naturally as confirmation and
lustltlcation of the large variety of
opinions expressed on CapitoI Hill dur
Ing the last IL months OF treaty dis
Wilson defenders say it proves that
ttnne president was right when he said
tilat chaos would come to Europe If
withheld her hand from the
enforcement of the peace treatys OBJ
legations. Former President Taft not
exactly 3 Wilson apologist, but
staunch friend of the treaty and league
Of nations says the same thing.
but the irreconcilable opponents of
the treaty and league call the German
revolution an internal affair--entirely
divorced both in cause and effect from
the peace treaty.
information thus far available at the
department of state would seem TO bear
out this view to certain extent. The
revoiutlon does appear on the face OF
oi.iGlal cables received to have been
motlVated by the desire of the mon
archists and reactionaries to get back
INTO power something that was newt
ape, no matter what happened outside
or Germany. No party that has once
held power, either imperial republican,
democratic or autocratie, is ever con-
tent TO stay outside the gates the
chanoe to get on the inside
Knox View of Situation,
But, while friends Of the treaty in
slst none of this German trouble would
nave happened if the league of nations
mad been set up, implaeable foes of
the pact say it is direct consequence
OF the cruel and harsh terms of peace
imposed upon Germany" which Ia the
way Senator PhiIander c. Knox Of
pennsylvania, himself a former secre=
tary of state, expressed il several
months ago, only to be denounced i'm
mediately as pro- German.
But recently expressions and COM
ments from Great Britain have Indicated
that the sober, second thought OF the
peace makers has been one of appre-
hension that they may have Imposed
upon. the vanquished foe terms or peace
when made II impossible for him 10
earn the money to pay his Indemnity.
Indeed, not a few people here look
upon tie German revelation as the
skillful plot Of the wealthy classes III
Germany, who would bear the greatcst It
burden OF the indemnity, to get out
from under
Already the new Berlin government
mas set itself up as a judge OF what
'erms CT the treaty it will fulfill.-those
which seem "just and reasonable"
rms IS a virtual hint of notification
and Is admittedly having a disquieting
effect here. For the truth is the asso-
Grated powers are not in a position
Immediately to make Germany nav.
America has about $4,000 troops on the
Rhine. England has not many more.
France has scarcely 100000
In different parts of Germany are
many hundreds of thousands of troops,
large numbers of whom are modified.
But Germany is without munitions, and
military opinion here seems to doubt
that she is counting fresh trouble with
the allies on the Rhine.
1T IS rather an analogy to the situa-
ton in Russia when the BolsheyilSi
agreed to the treaty of Brest- Litovsk
sistanGe to the enforcement of its
Allied Forces Scattered.
1t would cost the allies a good deal
TO enforce peace upon Germany and
the government of the latter nation
probably knows it, America army has
gone home across the Atlantic. The
British army has gone otthe far ends
OF the earth. The French army is
practically demobilized. Only economic
pressure can make Germany behave,
and she thinks the pressure of the
peace terms Is worse than anything
that could possibly be done to her If
she threw up her hands in despair and
declined to carry out the~terms of the
treaty.
There is reason to believe that Ger
many did hope for the influence of the
United States, coupled with that of
Great Britain, to offset the terms which
France was so instrumental in inn
posing on her.
Moreover, the election pledges OF
Lloyd George to make Germany pay
have now been superseded by strong
labor sentiment which openly advocates
revision of the terms of peace with
Germany.
Russia Holds Key.
Many of the financial people in our
government think tho key TO the whole
business lies in Russia. They say the
associated powers have made a grave
mistake In hesitating to open Russia
to trade. This would have furnished
markets for manufactures from Ger
many, France, Great Britain and the
others in Europe, for America is stocked
up with enough of her manufactures moi
TO want to buy much from Europe
Allied policy has wavered and hest
tated for q year, Europe says Aaerica
is to blame for holding up the united
action that was necessary 10 enforce
the terms of peace through the league
of nations America says Europe should
have gotten back TO work sooner with
out depending SO much on financial aio
from the United States. And tbs
struggle between socialists and mon.
archists in Berlin Is the proverblal con.
flagration while the Neros of the outel
world fiddle their own particular ma.
tional airs.
Copyright, 1920, by David Lawrence. !
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