New-York tribune., 1920-07-10

Germany to appear at Spa not as a
among equals, due reservations being
made for the fact that the business to
be discussed places her in the posture
OF debtor among creditors, was logical
and inevitable. To keep Germany in the
position which her representatives occu-
pied at Versailles was unthinkable. Then
they were literally Gagged in a portion
of the park, and visitors came by
myriads on Sundays to peer across the
barriers and see the German repre-
sentatives, for all the world like tame
deer, walking back and forth discussing
what they were not permitted to discuss
with their conquerors.
With the bitterness which the war
had provoked, with the memory of Ger
man crimes still fresh and the ruins Of
French towns destroyed in the final Ger
man retreat hardly cold, it was natural
that in 1919 the Germans should have
been treated rather as the Romans
treated their captives than as European
ambassadors have been accustomed to
meet, even after war which laid one
nation low and gave to the conquerors
something approaching absolute if only
momentary power.
The Germans at Paris
Yet the Germans were surprised by
their reception. They came expecting to
be allowed to visit Paris. Journalists
in the party expressed to friend of
mine their surprise and disappointment
at being denied the right to go to the
theaters, the cafes, to enjoy Paris again
as they had enjoyed it before the war.
That isolation was necessary as q mere
protection against the anger and re-
sentiment of the French people, an anger
a,1d resentment hardly to be criticized: :.
they did not understand, for the Ger
mans who came to Versailles were total
ly devoid Of suspicion of the passion
which German methods of making war
had aroused all over the world and par
ticularly in France and Belgium.
Such an attitude could hardly endure.
however. A hundred years ago the con-
querors Of Napoleon, only three years
after Waterloo, bade the French King
attend the Conference of Aix-la- Cha
pelle, held only short distance from
Spa, where the latest international gath
sring assemblies. At that conference
France was admitted not merely as an
equal but invited to join that League of
Nations, the Holy Alliance, which was
created nominally, at least, to fulfill the
mission prescribed for the later league
which was called into existence at
Paris two years ago.
n Ne1O Situation
But with the admission Of the Ger
mans, even to the preliminary degree
which Spa authorizes, new European
situation arises. The Germans come to
gathering of their conquerors to find
the conquerors divided as the victors in
the Napoleonic struggle were divided at
the Congress Of Vienna. Great Britain,
following the policy which Wellington
and Castlereagh advocated at Vienna.
would deal lightly with Germany, that
is, far more lightly than would France.
At Vienna, Prussia was the power most
eager to dismember France; to-day the
positions Of these nations have changed,
but British policy remains the same.
France and Britain are divided, then.
between moderation and harshness to-
ward Germany, harshness which means
compelling Germany to pay all or only
fraction Of her Indebtedness to those
she hao wronged. France and Britain
arc also at odds in the Near East, differ
over the policy to be followed toward
Russia--ars, in fact, drifting into an
attitude Of mutual recrimination ana