Evening star., 1921-03-18
Editorial Digest
The War After the War.


However necessary. a regrettable
thing" as the Baltimore Sun tnde-
pendent democratic) phrases it. seems
to be the verdict of the majority OF
the American press on the allied IN
vasion of Germany.
The satisfaction. however, OF seeing
the "unrepentant Hun Inundated is
so great on the part of some writers
that no clouds dim the vision OF the
allies triumphal entry into conquered
Germany. But great many editors.
who give their entire approval to tn"
new policy, express both doubt as To
its economic success and regret thai
it was neceSSIr,' to resort to force. y
few enter strong and unqualified pro
test against the military program:
Among these newspapers is the LIN :
coin (Neb.) State Journal Gndepend-
ent republican,. which declares that
the world looks on with dismay as
the troops of the allied nations march
into Germany to force a compliance
treaty" and, it adds. mo matter how
the matter is explained or CLOSED
over. it creates a painful reaction
throughout Christendom." The step
reflects little credit to allied states
manship." the Norfolk Virginian
lieves. for 1.-The Rhenish occupation is
less an Indictment of German dissimu-
lation and dishonesty than 1t is an in
dictment of the crudeness OF the al
lied methods in computing and col
lecting the indemnity" This unfortu
nate outcome of the London confer
ence. in the opinion of the New York
Mall (independenD. is such that mo
mar who has the peace of the worl"
at heart can contemplate without
sadness of heart"
The Baltimore Evening Sun Cnde
pendent democratic) looks at the IN
vasion as parallel to the classic assas-
sination of the goose that laid the
golden eggs. and the Brooklyn Eagle
independent democratic) remarks
that there is grave doubt that the
coercive measures which have been
taken against her will be productive
of any good result" These measures
will. indeed. says the Evansville
Courier (democratic), ''go far towar rd
cementing the foundation OF future
strife" and the Johnstown Democrat
tdemocratic) sees little use in the
step. for, despite the power Of any
victor to destroy. enslave and hold for
ransom the conquered state, he can
not compel a vanquished nation to
pay greater sum than is represented
by goods actually in existence unless
the conquered nation gives it's assent
to the agreement"
The Minnesota Star Gndependent)
remarks that ordinary common sense
in this country, or, for that matter
England and France. too, has the
right view of the program. 1t con-
demns II as stupid"
The New York Evening Post Gnde-
pendent) feels that invasion is only
an adjournment OF discussion. which
will now have to be carried out under
hi ftrav~ ant
Furthermore, the Springfield Republi-
can CndependenD points out. the rev.
enues which the allies can collect for
themselves are necessarily small in
comparison to the damage done to
German commerce. which fact. con-
sidsring the resultant reduction in
Germany's ability to pay" suggests
the presumption that these measures
are Of a temporary and provisional
character"
However. perhaps a more typical
sample of liberal comment Is offered
in the following paragraph from the
st. Louis Star (independenD: Amer
ican public opinion stood by Germany
when the issue was the payment of
SIS, 6,500.0O0.000 plus an export tax. but
it cannot stand by Germany when the
issue is the fiat refusal to pay more
than an insignificant part Of the phys
ical loss occasioned by German ag-
gression."
NO other course" is the explanation
offered by many writer's. This is the
conclusion Of the Roanoke World
News (democratic), and the Chicago
Post independently grants it inev-
table" though move which all
who had hoped for peaceful settle
it had to be played. aSG6zJersey City
Journal Gndependent) admits, though
it will mean "furtheF-stagnation Of
German industry"
The Chicago Tribune independent
republican, is among those who re-
jo:ce in the forceful action. regardless
Of its perils.
Force stopped too soon. says the
Savannah News (democratic), and
the allies could have talked them
selves into a state Of coma without
getting a one-hundredth part of the
hoped-for results that wNl flow from
vancing farther into Germany"
Nothing would convince the Ger
mans Of their error except the action
that the allies have taken" the
Kansas City Times independently re-
marks Similar sentiments come from
the Buffalo Commercial (indepen ndent).
which declares force must be used
The "only possible answer" is the
Wilmington Stars (democratic) COM
ment. since. in the words Of the Bos-
ton Transcript independent repub-
lican). there was no other alterna-
tive" and the Louisville Courier
Journal (democratic) sees the step
necessary to bring Germany to her
senses"
Confident that it will hasten Ger
manys decision to pay the reparations
debt" the Hartford Times (demo-
cratic) considers force the only argu-
ment," and the Lynchburg News
(democratic) expresses the hope that
this policy will be pushed ito it's con-
ciusion with all possible vigor and
SO bring Germany to terms within