Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-26
! BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

Ii n PdSSAOHS dpdlC0, CSoh-
A omic, financial as well as
~ " social despair stalking
throughout four-fifths of
the continent, Europe begins to
realise how futile is the treaty of
Versailles in it's provisions tending
to grind Germany to the earth for
countless decades. European states
men today are beginning to admit their
error in Paris when the text of the
treaty of Versailles was drafted. Not
that all terms were not just in i'm
pressing the enemy with the iniquity
should not have been carried out. but
European statesmen today are begin
ming to realize that though the frame
work of the pact may have been in
spired by just thinking, nevertheless
it is uncomfortable. Germany simply
cannot bear the financial burdens
thrust upon her through the repara-
tions clauses. Germany is a bankrupt
and this the allies know. In order
to get a fraction of what Germany
rightly should pay. Germany must be
assisted as a going concern with allied
1unOS ana peace tSdCtiOHS IuSl De C
duced from money to kind or ire
trievable disaster will be wrought
not only to Germany but to the allies
as well. notably France. which is
dependent in large measure upon
reparations for the rebuilding of the
vast territory ruined by the ruthless
German war machine.
New Tack Must Be Taken.
The reparations conference which
f<v. No
days, and which has adjourned until
January 10, has offered proof of the
fact that the allies realize new tack
must be taken in Encouragement OF
the Versailles pact. The peace docu-
ment cannot be treated literally. AL
ready there is united disposition, even
France apparently concurring, that
the indemnities or reparations must
Be cut, the most frequently mention
ed sum being a hundred billions of
marks gold. This is many billions less
than the allies first talked of. Even
at Spa during the summer months the
amounts were cut far beneath the
original figures held out in the YER
sai!les pact by which Germany would
have been obligated to pay indefinite
Gums for an indefinite period, posi-
bly, totaling in the long run a hundred
billion marks more than it appears
the allies now are ready to ask.
In addition. there appears to be
tendency to permit Germany to retain
a good share of shipping heretofore
allocated to the allies, which would
permit her once more to enter trade
over the high seas at preferential
rates broadening the scope of her
world markets. Stranger still is the
clause in the treaty of Versailles
which permits allies to continue the
seouestering of German property at
any moment when it would appear
that Germany was about to dodge
treaty terms. This clause has hazard
ed the placing of German securities
in the advancement of trade. particu-
larry in allied countries, where Ger
many must trade if she prospers.
Furthermore. the question of ex-
cured by sequestered German proper
ty,Nis in the forefront of concessions
which may be granted to the Teutons,
If, in fact, allied nations do not agree
to use the whole of property seques-
tered during the war to fund the Ger
man obligations in future trade with
allied nations.
whole Plan Revolutionary.
Tho whole is revolutionary in
character and almost unbelievable to
those who. in Paris at the time.
caught the whisperings of world
statesmen as they cogitated. debated.
then drafted , the pea peace su terms indemn,,v
was drst opposed by the French
When Britain waived the clause re-
garding sequestration of German
property, France voiced keenest dis
pleasure France. ever with an eye
to the consequences of an early re-
juveaated Germany, has not treated
with kindness any proposition to
undermine the Versailles terms which
France always has regarded as being
too weak. but IL the French dele
gates to the reparations conference
consent to the proposals which have
been made by the German and all
lied delegates, there is no question
that the future of Germany will be
made easier and the allies immedi-
ately will become more secure against
financial and economic chaos which
threatens all Europe. for with even
ono Of the four great producing ma
tioa9 Of Europe PROSTATE. the evil
effects. financially and economically.
arc felt throughout the length and
breadth OF tho continent being a