Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-06-24
- Wilson Stands Alone in The Dark Period at Paris
Disappointing Gerr.>ny.

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Disorgsnixino Gsrr.-ny.
The resources lost by Germany IRE
torn from complete and complex
economic organism, and they cannot
contribute to world production with
fun efficiency until they are fitted
into another. the construction Of
which requires time The addition
to France (or 10 Poland) IL thus less
than the subtraction from Ger
many: and the world as n whole is
for the time being, at any rate---the
poorer for the transfer. II the whole
economic organism OF Germany IS
disrupted, so much tho better in the
eyes of the French, for security" Is
thus made more secure!
Such was the complete French
plan, as disclosed-as kind OF mass
attack-upon the Presidents return
TO Europe. II was their answer. In
terms. to his proposals for the peace,
and ne considered that Il was IN di-
rect opposition at almost every point
20 the principles laid down and ac-
cepted at the armistice. In order 20
hithfi rttdtAJ LAAb bAI Xxx ~ Nl
the dark period. the French diplo-
matte strategy must be clearly en-
visaged in all its elements. To sum
marize the main features Of their
programme OF security as against
| Wilson's programme OF the mutual
guarantees OF world-leagie we
/ have:
!. French military control of tho
Rhine.
2. A permanent alliance ot tho
great powers to help France to hold
IT,
3 A group Of smaller aliies-ths
sanitary Gordon to menace Ger
many from the East.
4. Territorial reduction Of the Ger
man Empire
5. Gripping Of the German politi-
cal organization.
6. Disarmament Of Germany but
not Of the Allies.
Z. a crushing indemnity.
3. Deprivation Of economic re-
sources.
.. A sot of commercial agreements
preferential to France. prejudicial 20
Germany.
Here We have exactly what was IN
tho minds of the leaders of the old
order and their programn. for tho
coming peace.
Passion for Security
II is easy, OF course, 10 cry out.
as the Germans do. that this wa. a
pure militaristic and imperialistIc
program. Strong militaristic and
imperialistic elements there certain
ly were in II, but the dominating ele-
ment first and last was fear and a
passion for security. To som. OK
tent the bargaining instinct entered
into the programme (but throughout
the conference for legs on the part Of
the French than on that Of the Brit
ish and Italisns). yet It is hard To
put finger on a single element in
this tremendous programme that was
not thought out. sincerely meant to
begin with. and tenaciously strug-
gled for.
But the results OF allowing such
passions fun sway are just as seri-
Gus when they spring from an in
feriority complex" as when they are
frank expressions Of a "supernan"
or "super-race" delusion. Consider
the outcome!
In n Balkanized Europe Of small
squabbling States are left only two
considerable national entities, France
and Germany. To render the one Sc
cure the other must be disarmed.
dismembered, ringed around with
strategicaIly posted foes. its econ
omic life crushed and fettered. The
outcome Is nothing less than the
domination Of Europe by France.
And the war was fought TO prevent
It's domination in just this wise by
Germany. What is the difference.
except that the whole world is the
poorer b. the cost OF the vast effort
TO attain the result and by the waste
involved in the transfer Of resources
All, yes! the Frenchman would say,
If he were brought TO admit all this,
but the world would be the gamer
by substituting the enlightened tu-
telage Of France for the barbaric
despotism of Germany. One may ac-
cept this proposition, and yet ask Il
either Is necessary.
It was the question that Wilson
put TO the world insistenly and
powerfully. II was militarism, and
the military basis OF peace-whetheE
actual armies or alliances, or econ
omic domination - that he was
against. America had helped, al
great cost, to overcome the idea
as represented by Germany; coult
America consent now to accept tn.
same basis. even when demanded By
her friends and Allies? Il was the
whole system that Wilson wa.
against-the old order" the ancient
stupid, violent methods which in tn,
end would not accomplish the enc
N desired-that he was against Will
the entire force Of his nature aaC
his faith. He was Offering tn.
world-and the French! the onl,
= substitute for the old equilibrium o
forces-which was a new order OF in
O. ternatiOnal relations. based upol
p moral principles. mutual trust an,
Id common guarantees, the League o
ht Nations. To enable the world TO at
is tain this new order France mus
of throw over her fears. the British
st Empire its appetite for Colonial ex
ny panson, America its centred iso
he lation, just as Germany had beef
it forced to abandon her wild an,
er greedy ambitions. For all thes
things were dangerous to the peac
tic Of the world
n 1t was this bitter struggle Of tw
US utterly antagonistic principles tina
ill went on there in the Dark Period
eft had to go on TO some compromise
"a some basis as between Wilson an
al Clenenceau-befors tha terms ~ ~