The Washington herald., 1920-02-02

In one OF the HohenkoIIefn
castles
Berlin, Feb. 1-Hindenburg. whose
reputation for honesty is a by-word
in Germany. will undoubtedly be the
next national President.
He will be chosen as a result Of the
re-birth Of Pan Germanism how
sweeping the country like a tidal
wave, as soon as the national assem-
bly,. now on its last legs. is dissolved
In view of the Pan German spirit.
it is Frances duty to discourage re-
venegeful sentiments on the part Of
the German people instead Of encour-
aging them by insisting upon the
literal fuIfllment of such treaty terms
as that demanding the delivery Of
alleged war criminals to the allies
for trial
Fear Mllitarist's Return.
BY enforcing that paragraph, the
allies will run the gravest risk of
exciting a revulsion Of German feel
ing which will throw the country back
into the arms of the militarists and
probably will bring a monarchistic
coup d'etat to crown a new emperor
In any case rapprochement be-
tween France and Germany which
is an essential condition to the re-
construction of both countries will
be immensely retarded unless the
treaty is modified to permit the
trial of the war criminals by neu-
trails, which would be tavorabiy
viewed by all Germans. . s-...
Condemned Would BE Heroes.
Trial OF these men before an allied
tribunal will be the signal for a
tremendous militarist campaign of
propaganda. The condemned Ger
mans will be transformed, in the
eyes of their compatriots. into heroic
martyds: public ceremonies in their
honor will be decreed and the Prus-
SLAMS. whose prestige is now low.
will regain their oId-time sway over
the opinion of the masses through
out Germany.
The sudden. unheralded return
from Paris today of DR.. Mayer. the
German charge d'affaires. immedi-
ately after being received by Pre-
mier Millerand. caused considerably.
stir. At the foreign office, however.
it was stated that there was no spe-
cial significance in the incident 9TH
er than DR.. Mayer planned to come
here from Paris often in order to
keep in close personal touch with
the government and make verbal
reports to the foreign minister.
Anxious Over List.
Nevertheless 1t is generally be-
lieved that DR.. Mayors return to
report to the government has to do
with the extradition list of alleged
war criminals which the allies are
expected to present officially before
February 10. As the day approach
es for the extradition demand, both
government and public are becom-
ing keyed up to a higher nervous
tension, especially in view of the
fact that the cabinet may 20 to
pieces on the question.
In various quarters the German
note asking .he allies to drop the de-
mand for German nationals Is taken
as confirmation Of the reports that
the government has unofficialIy
knowledge Of the names of those
wanted by the allies. On the other
hand this is vigorously denied at the
foreign ONCE.
Government Has Hope.
The government has clung and stin
clings to the faint hope that the al
lies will be open to reason" and rea-
lize that is not to their own in
terest to force the issue to a point
where the government will fail. 1t
is believed that DR.. Mayer discussed
this point with Premier Millerand.
Wilhelmstrasse seemed considerably
annoyed today that hte information
has leaked out in Paris that Ger
many had sent note on the extra
dition question. fact which has been
kept dark here. ..
1t is known that the government is
using every possible argument to per-
suade the allies not to insist on the
literal fulfillment of that paragraph
of the treaty of Versailles.