The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-07

its 32S packed pages produce upon
the mind. The disadvantage of words,
compared with pictures, is the time
required 10 arrive at the effect. Mr..
Bass comes nearer achieving
graphic map in language form than
has any other writer on the condi-
tons growing out Of the war His
book is a mental airplane fight over
Europe. not taken for pleasure or to
stir emotions and prejudices. but to
clear the minds of thinking readers.
No greater service could be performed
NJ this anxious moment in the worlds
affairs.
The author combines rare elements
Of power. He is first of all a good
reporter: and he holds the mass of
fact in such reasoned order that 1t
does not confuse the view Best of
all. underneath every argument and
principle is a base of right feeling
not sentinentality or anger, but an
intense. undeflected purpose TO pre-
sent the truth, to the end that justice
may be secured to all nations.
No interest is attacked" in the
partisan sense and nobody is spared.
1t would be impossible for anv right
minded reader to accuse Mr.. Bass Of
pro- Germanism In the obnoxious
sense. But he points out provisions
of the treaties that practically make
il impossible for Germany to do what
is demanded of her And such folly
is only greater in extent as applied
to Germany. In principle, a like
stupid procedure is followed else
where For example Hungary is or
dered to supply wood to Austria. But
under the same treaty Austria Is de-
prived Of her forests. Austrian chill
dren are kept alive on American and
British condensed milk while part of
the country's meagre stock of cattle
is apportioned TO Jugoslavia, which is
exporting a cattle surplus to Italy!
Is it any wonder that Mr.. Bass thus
characterizes the situation:
"It would almost seem as if naughty
children had provided the highly COM
more money out of Germany and
Austria than they originally agreed to
take. Their machinery OF con-
troll is so complex and cunning that 1t
will defeat its own end by preventing
the Germans from acquiring the wealth
with which TO pay. Much Of the real
money the Allies are to get will be alb
sorbed in paying for the military occu-
patton of German territory. This mill
tary occupation is aimed to protect
them against the danger which will
come into existence only when the oc-
cupation ceases. that is. when Germany
is able to pay her debts. And the army
Of occupation, IL ii attempts to enforce
the terms of the treaty over term of
years, will rob France of her most
precious possession, the friendship OF
the world
The greatest cause of trouble, so far
as the Peace Congress was concerned,
was the bargaining of the old
fashioned diplomats, which under
mined the larger humanitarian struc-
ture. Such bargaining was made pos
sible by secrecy. America might have
made a successful fight at the outset
for open covenants openly arrived at.
She did not and the secret treaties
won.
The arrangements made were po-
litical, whereas the need was economic.
Our effort should be-" declares Mr..
Bass, ito change the league from a
political to a judicial and economic
body" OF course we cannot do this
or anything else until we are better
informed as to the facts. Before and
during the first part of the war our
State Department had quite made
quate sources of political information,
but since the armistice a beginning
has been made. Much closer relations
should be established between our Gov
eminent ana our commercial orsaniza-
tons II our national effort is to have
its full effect" During the war there
was a degree of relationship between
business and Government that had its
desirable side. That is not n matter
Of government control, but of clearer
understanding and better distribution
of energy.
The chapters deal in succession
with the secret treaties which are the
basis of all the present international
difficulties: with the conduct and ac-
complishments OF the Peace Confer
ence; with the present status Of each
Of the chief nations Of Europe. Amer
lea needs this knowledge. She needed
Il long ago. In the opinion of the
author, backed by the ablest judg-
ments he could secure. the ignorance
Of the American delegates was the
one factor that made the worst evils
Of the Versailles treaty possible. But
even now II is not too late 70 act on
true understanding. such as Mr..
Bass, Mr. Keynes and n few other
writer's have made II possible to at
tain. Here are a few of the para
graphs that indicate the kind Of aid
to be found in the volume under re-
view:
THE idea that Poland will be
buffer state TO prevent close political
and economic relations between Rus
STA and Germany IL a military concep-
ton grounie led In weakness. That
weakness is being proved to-day The
creation OF Poland has really secured
closer relations between Russia and
Germany because they hate Poland
with common hatred. They have
once united 10 eliminate her. They