South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-03-10
Editors Than Ours
GERMANY AND PEACE.
IndiananOIis NeMs.l

One of the important provisions of the YER
sailes treaty is the following
THE allied and associated governments affirm and
Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and
her allies for causing all the loss and damage
which the allied and associated governments and
their nationals have been subjected consequence
of the war imposed upon them by the aggression
of Germany and her allies"
In his address before the conference in London
delivered Wednesday last Lloyd George referred
10 speech recently made by DR.. Simons, German
foreign minister, and member of the conference, in
which she rerudiated Germanys responsibility for
war" "FNor the allies" said the prime minister,
German responsibility for the war is fundamental"
1t is written in the treaty which Germany signed,
and which since, the allies have been trying,
not without difficulty, to enforce. The proposals
made by the German delegates, indeed the whole
attitude of the German government Indicate a de-
termination TO evade whenever possible the obiga-
tons of the treaty this among them.
Not long the question of Germanys re-
eponsibity for the a very live in this
country in all the allied and associated countries.
Many times, and by OF all shades of political
belief, it insisted that whatever else done,
Germany should be stamped indeliby with the guilt
of having begun the war The demand most
righteous One-and it has not ceased be righte
Gus. There should be no peace except the basis
of morality. and there be morality in in
strument of peace which leaves the issue of guilt
certain doubtful. We went into the war,
~ to defeat great nation, but to rebuke and crush
a criminal conspiracy against civilization. and the
victory that we desired was as much a moral as a
material IL is this of victory-a moral
that written in the Versailles treaty
our people also demanded that individual
Germans from the former kaiser down. be held up
before the world offenders against the law of
God and the law OF nations. 1t felt that these
should be tried and, if found guilty punished
for their crimes. Here again the treaty makes the
issue clear 1t may not be possible TO try these
the former kaiser is beyond the jurisdiction of
either Germany the allied and associated govern
ments But the treaty does arraign them. The al
lied and associated powers" the treaty.
publicly arraisn William IL of HOhenzOlern. for
merly German emperor, for a supreme offense
against international morality and the sanctity Of
treaties And by the treaty the German govern
ent recognizes the right of the allied associated
powers to bring before military tribunals persons
accused Of having committed acts in violation Of the
and customs of war Is il worth while 10
have this judgment stand that OF the civilized
world and do not Americans think that Ii should be
Judgment. officially and solernnly proclaimed
Yet Sen. Knox proposes simply 10 declare the
isteuce Of "A state OF peace. and leave the judgment
l.npronouncedt surely If soldiers fought and
died for the right that fact should be blazoned TO
The world-and posterity-in the Versailles
treaty II they did not dght and die for the right,
then IL does not matter by what Of hugger-nug-
ser is restored Lloyd George spoke the truth.
and IL will find echo in every loyal American
heart when ne said. the allies German respon-
sbility for the is fundamental"