New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-03
By Harold L. Scarborough
From The Trihnns'a Eurnncnn Ruraau

rom The Ir,buns's Europcou Bureau
n ONDON, March %. --- after all
h hlighters is 'uman beings" said
'>~ an efficient little cockney waiter
at Simpsons. He had right to say
it. because when he doesn't wear his
white jacket there is double row Of
service ribbons on his coat. There ie
men-men who three years ago were
doing their utmost to kill Germans and
at the same time avoid being killed by
them--who feel much tho same way
about it.
The plain truth is that. by and large.
the Englishman does not hate. The
German "strafng' always left him
more or less puzzled. and now that he
has come back to his island he has
simply reverted to the legacy of his
race--the immense consciousness of
his insular superiority. True, the Ger
man did things during the war that
Quoted wars. But then. not oil Of the
men on the Allied side acted strictly
according to Hoylc, especially otter
the air raids and the torpcdoing OF
hospital ships began.
Sometimes when the Teutons Of to-
day seem oyerbold the coekney will
audibly wonder 900 won the bloody
war, anyhow" He desn't love the
German--not by any means: he simply
has adopted a typically British Atti-
tudc toward him, which means, FOR the
most part, unconcern
But the German is still a German.
He knows TO more about the Britisker
now than he did seven years ago--nor
will he ever know more. Else he GER
tainly would not have sent to London
to discuss the Preparations problem the
body of men who did come
Picture the Teuton opportunity:
English Diplomatic circles decidedly an
noyed over the complete victory Of
French tactics in the Paris Repxrations
Agreement, and again in the revision
of the Treaty Of Sevres; English bust
ness men and English labor anxious to
rcestablish trade with Germany; Eng
lish public opinion only mildly inter-
ested by the shrieks OF the yellow press
that Germany must be made to paw to
the uttermost farthing!
Simcns a Weak Advocate
With Unfortunate Personality
And then picture the manner in which
the German government met the oppor-
tunity: First, with a refusal to as
sumo any responsibility for the war:
second, with the dispatch of delega-
tion headed by such man as DR.. Won
Simons, the Foreign Minister. and con-
tanning such personalities as General
Won Seckt; third, with the advance
ment of proposals which any Allied
statesman, accepting, would sign his
political death warrant!
There is little wonder that Lloyd
George, obviously against his inclina-
ton, finally decided to agree to the ap-
plication of the Paris sanctions. Had
the Germans final proposal been ad-
vanced at frst-but it wasn't. And so
armies are again marching in western
Europe.
DR.. Won Simons was totally unified
for the leadership Of the German mis-
sion. Transparency honest. he never
theless is the possessor CT an unfortu
nate personality which actually creates
an impression Of furtiveress and weak
ness He is man of moderate stature,
with mediocre features and a mild lit
tie blond mustache. He is absolutely
without personal magnetism. without
skill in debate-in short, nonentity.
against the veteran BRAND, against tho
wonderfully astute Lloyd George?
S,mons gave no impression of ability,
of u desire to get things done. We'll,
ii this is the sort of man Germany has
sent us''- about sums up the opin-
ions of the Allied leaders, and once OF
tw,e they came perilously close to ex-
pressing it.
But this was not enough. To tho
tmid Won Simons Berlin added the
JuMSer Won Seckt. Won Seckt looks
more like a German officer than any
German has any right to look. He is
stock and bull-necked; his hair is
closely clipped; his face is stony and
impassive; his monocle is arrogance it.
self To see him stalking around the
corridors of the Savoy in field-gray
uniform or striding into St. JAmes's
Palace with his sword clanking against
his boots was to plunge back into the
days when all Germans were Huns.
Even the mildest of mortals would feel
annoyed by the very insolence of the
nan. He was typical Of the "Welt-
macht" spirit at its worst.
The third unfortunate German selec-
tor. was DR. Dreschlcr, who had charge
Of the German publicity. Dresckler, to
bs sure, was much more able than the
other two. He had had experience at