New-York tribune., 1920-07-25
Despite the Ultimatum

ancient territory"
Despite the Ultimatum
To the Western world the success
of the Germans in forcing modifi-
cations of the Versailles compact is
covered, in a small measure, by the
fact that at certain point the
Allies resorted to ultimatums and
summoned Marshal Foch to prepare
for the occupation Of the Ruhr dis
trict. But this is, after all, of little
significance. What the Germans did
was to break through the Allied
lines, using the old military jargcn,
and exploit their gains as long as
it was profitable; at the point where
the resistance stiffened they halted
and consolidated their new positions,
from which they will presently at
tack again.
The essential thing Is that the
Germans were successful in obtain
ing notifications of the Treaty of
Versailles. They obtained a post
ponement of the date Of disarma-
lnent, already become a mere mat
ter of phrase since they had failed
to comply with it and the time limit
had expired They got a reduction
of the amount of coal they must
deliver, and they obtained an in
crease in the credits which they
were allowed on the basis of the
coal delivered. Thus, even when
they surrendered to an ultimatum,
they were able to point to a COM
promise in another direction which
mere than paid for their submission.
Ludendorff, in his "Memoirs," re-
fers over and over again to the two
fatal days of August s and 20, 1918.
Their fatal character lay in the fact
that they disclosed to the Allies the
weakening Of the German morale
and thus amounted to invitations to
Foch to continue and even to multi
ply his efforts. The Battle of Spa
must be regarded henceforth as the
same sort of an advertisement.
To Prussian Methods
The very conference was in itself
g victory for the Germans, since
they were permitted, at last, to
cscapefrom the conditions surround
ing them during the conference in
Paris and their representatives were
able to talk and debate like those Of
the Allied nations there represented.
And they took full advantage Of
their opportunity. All Germany Ia
now ringing with the defiance Of
SHINES and believes that the gains
which were made were the result Of
the return Of SHINES to the old
Prussian method Of talking, which
was insolent-
To be sure, the Germans discov-
ered that there was point beyond
which they could not go at Spa, and
at the eleventh hour they halted
there. But they also discovered that
resistance, even If it did not lead to
final rupture CIR the realization Of all
that the German representatives
sought, was profitable. 1t is easy to
conclude, with even the smallest
knowledge Of the German method Of
thinking, that we shall have, hence
forth, resistance, multiplied energy
ia seeking openly as we'll as covertly
ITO balk the Allies.
And we may also conclude that
Spa Is only the first in the long
series of international gatherings
which will precede the arrival Of the
moment when the Germans will dare
resist openly. At Spa it was clear
that the moment had not come. De-
manding certain French concessions,
Lloyd George in the last analysis
stood with Millerand. His position
was more clearly defined in the mat
ter of rehabilitation than in that Of
coal, because his own national senti-
menc was more united. But, on the
whole, the Anglo-French association
stood the strain of Spa better than
4ne Germans probably hoped.
Still. it is perfectly clear to the
Germans that neither Lloyd George
nor. Parliament could raise or send
many troops to Germany at the pres
ent moment to enforce Allied de-
taands in the matter Of coal or of
tepsrations. Ireland. India. Egypt