Evening star., 1921-04-24
by PAUL SCOTT MOWRER.


By Gable TO The Star and Chicago Daily News.
Copyright 1921.
PARIS. April 19.-The feeling that
France is being badly treated inter
nationally in the reparations ques
smolderinS in the hearts Of many
Americans stationed abroad-has at
least found expression in the follow
ing spirited. open letter addressed
through The Star to the American
people. This letter. though signed
by only a small group of we'll known
American professors. business men
and writers each in his individual
capacity. would undoubtedly be in
dorsed by hundreds more. In part,
the text of the letter is:
Text OF Letter.
LAS group of Americans in France
right understanding of the French
position, we feel impelled to state
without argument our deliberate and
common convictions concerning GER
tain obligations toward France and
the other allies which. considering the
course of events since our entrance
into the war. the United States, in
our opinion. is bound in honor to
meet.
These obligations involve. above
all. support of the just demands OF
the allies on Germany. We take 1t
as now self-cvident that Germany.
resourceful in every crooked form OF
forced to pay. Regardless of the
worlds disgust. she is resolved 10
play out to an ignoble finish under
the contemptuous eyes OF observing
nations her long-drawn tragic COM
edy of low financial chicanery.
No Sense of Honor.
To-day. in the German government
at least. there is no sense of honor
and no honest will to find way to
paw its Just debts or to look its moral
obligations in the face.
The French and Belgians. par
ticularly victims of the war. Wilied'
begun and carried on barbarously by
Germany to her defeat. have beyonu
question in the long months since lne
armistice shown extraordinary self
control. moderation and Il rare spiril
of conciliation. but contumacy mas
been the Germany response 10 eacI
magnanmouS gesture OF france anu
patience of the victors in the face
of insult and bad faith. Confronted
by tricky procrastination. ending III
Germanys fat refusal to meet heI
obligations. the world must holo
France and the other allies olame
less II tney mdrCh ~ ~ -
Germany and take what Germany re-
fuses to pay.
"Our hopes regarding the prompt
and uncompromising stand Americans
at home will take in the immed!ate
future are definite. Our compatriots
and deliberate malice. of which the
mines and varied devastatlons IN
northern France still remain tragic
evidence. or the brutal outrages OF
which they themselves had sufficient
taste.
See Justice of Cause.
I'VE long ago decided as to the JUS.
tice of the French cause and fouSnt
therefor Americans, with their sport
ing spirit despiSe a whining loser
and with their liking for business
honesty they detest the creditor who
signs notes and refuses to honor them
'It remains for them to champion in
peace the cause they championsd IN IN
war, and they may well begin by
making life unbearable for the Ger
man propagandists. who still find a
way to turn weak heads and raise
dust that clouds the vision OF some
of those who should see clearly. 1t
ganda of it's veiled lies and-show it
up for what it is-a shameless at
tempt on the part of Germany to
make the victorious victims pay for
the devastation and disasters she her
self wrought to fool the United States
biest, shiftiest and most dishonest
game that ever a great nation openly
played. and in general to estrange. the
United States and the other allies
from France.
Right Notion Would Show.
"A right notion of what was best
for her would teach Germany to turn