Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-11-18

The questions before the conference are
to be decided by great peoples--who
have as much right to hear the discus
sions affecting their future, their lives
and their fortunes and those Of their
children and $hildren's children as they
have to public sessions Of the courts
and 1t has long been considered In every
land that publicity IN court procedure
spells Justice. Star chamber methods
prevailed at Versailles. Let us have
light In Washington.
TIME FOB CRITICISMS
AND AMENDMENTS.
Secretary Hughes proposition is ac-
eepted In principle by Britain and Japan.
NOW comes the gnawing criticisms the
proposed amendments. WIN these nulli-
/ ~ the original plani Probably not
We may take 1t as settled that there Is
! TO be some agreement for holiday in
naval construction.
Meantime and while tho delegations Of
America, Great Britain and Japan ure<
pare propositions for the solution Of
the questions OF the Far East, the French
delegates are at work on the problem
OF how they can best introduce their de-
mands before the conference. Those do
mands are bound up with the question
OF Germany. Personally l think that the
indemnity placed on Germany is far be-
yond the power TO pay Of that coun-
try.
France had pothing, has nothing to
fear from the kind OF government now
II power, or rather IN office. in Berlin -
that government is not militaristic and
l believe that under such a government
Germany would gradually be liberallzed
and become In thought and In political
feeling somewhat like our own United
States.
DANGERS or
FINANCIAL Ruin.
But people however industrious, how
ever disciplined, ma, be maddened by
financial ruin-by the prospect OF for
years bearing or paying Rrsat annual
tribute to another nation like the slave
nations depicted on the bas-reliefs erec-
ted by Assyrian cOnQuerors and the tear
ing away Of part of German Silesia has
given the militarists Of the old system
Il peg on which TO hang their helmets
an excuse 20 sir up hatred, revenge and
the spirit OF war.
The British; on the contrary, showed a
more forgiving, well az a more dip
lomatic spirit. They were against the
partition Of Silesia and 10 Ia the French
who are today the nation most hated In
Germany.
We have great admiration. a great
sympathy for France but It is our ira
ditiOnal policy not to make European
alliances, and IN view Of the irritation Of
Germany by certain French statesmen,
ou- people probably will IN no uncertain
manner indicate that It. is not our affair
TO ally ourselves with France against
Germany, whether under re guise Of an
agreement for protection" or otherwise
GERMAN INDEMNITY
GREAT.
Nor do 1 think that another PROPOSE
ton which the French delegation may
possibly advance viii meet with favor
France. having placed too great indem-
nifty on the back Of Germany and finding
that Germany cannot pay. may offer to re-
NIT part Of an indemnity whicL it Is
now plain cannot be collected, providing
we remit the debt which France owes
us. Here again It Is probable that our
people will feel that our fortunes are not
so bound up with Germany, that our
policy with regard to the debt owed us
~ France should be governed by the
policy Of France towards Germany.
The French delegation win them say
that they must keep a great standing
army. AS far as we are concerned, II
they have so dealt with Europe in the
hour of their victory that they feel that
such an army is necessary, It is again
not our affair. 1t Is not our backs that