Evening star., 1921-05-01

ended April 80:
GERMANY: 1t is the noon Of Friday. April 20
Presumably if before midnight Saturday the su-
preme council is in receipt of rcparation offer
from Germany which shall present a proper basis
for discussion" and if before midnight Saturday
the Germans pay down that sum of twelve Dillon
gold marks. whose payment is an issue quite
Independent of the main reparation question, or
submit a promise to pay adequately secured; and
if before midnight Saturday the Germans pledge
strict and immediate fulfllment of the dlsarma-
ment clauses of the Versailles treaty. and find
means to make that pledge convincing; and II
all such engagements are accompanied by satis-
factory guarantees; why then perhaps there VIII
not be a more extended operation of the sane
tions of the treaty: perhaps the Ruhr basin will
not be occupied. But any new offer must be direct.
perfectly lucid Of all vexatious and litigious
conditions and qualifications, and accompanied by
satisfactory. ineluctable guarantees
Guarantees: There's the rub. Rightly or wrong
ly German faith has a worse name in the world
of today than punc faith (Punica fdes) had IN
it's time and the latest German note has not
sweetencd it. 1t is not within my province to go
deeply into motives. The German note may or
may not be studiously obscure. 1t may or not
have been forwarded through devious channel. it
may may not have been composed in ambiguous
language for sinister ends. At any rate. 1t is
obscure to fuginosity. Henry James at his dark
est, Browning at his most perverse. have nothing
on the economic clauses of that note. Nobody, in
the world can figure out the sum Of the German
offer The allies (and beyond cavil the British
and Italians at least are eager for satisfactory
offer) are agreed that the offer is fatally short
of the Paris program But admit that it might
conceivably be regarded proper basis for
discussion it is (the allies agreed) neu-
tralized and vitiated by the conditions, the de-
A ayyS.
paper puts it: The Germans offer with one hand
and with the other would take away more than
they offer.
Germany only considers" says the note, these
proposals capable of acceptance if the regime
of penalties ends Immediately; if the actual basis
of German productions is not further restricted
and if Germany is admitted to world trade and
relieved from unproductive expenses
The language is as obscure, but there
seems mistaking the demands which loom
through the mur<. The sanctions must lapse Ger
many must keep all upper Siesia. Germany must
be relieved of all such expenses those of mill
tary occupation control commissions. etc. In
other words so runs the comment of the French
and British press the treaty Of Versailles goes by
the board, the substantial guarantees are
abolished, Germany becomes perfectly free
agent the arsenals and the dye works will go
full blast again. Germany will be in plight
to repudiate her unsecured promises. even for
a war revenge which last may be unfair to Ger
man motives, which may be pure and benevolent.
but it is plausibly deducible from the note. The
German offer is dead, the headlines say. But
it's corpse. innocent not is pestilent and must
infect the atmosphere Of future negotiate Be
cause of it the Germans are more suspected than
ever and because Of it the allies will insist
pertinaciousy than before on the guarantees
real guarantees. The supreme council sits and
waits for new offer from Germany. direct and
lucid offer free from vexatious and litigatious
conditions. While waiting. it will discuss the
sanctions and guarantees should such offer
arrive.
1t is to be observed that the German note fails