Evening star., 1924-09-16
Germany Seeks Absolution.

Germany's desire to join the League
OF Nations, keen as it is, is not so
Keen as its wish to be relieved of
blame for starting the great war. The
situation is a peculiar one. The League
ui Nations is, in effect, the creature
II the treaty Of Versailles. That
treaty, however, is based upon the
principle of Germany's responsibility
for the war. Every punitive provision
IN it is conditioned upon that hypoth-
esis. 1t is difficult to see how an in
tcrnational organization which owes
It's origin to a protocol which holds
Germany accountable for the conflict
of 1914 can rewrite that protocol by
removing the stigma of responsibility
in order to admit that country as a
new member.
For the league to admit Germany,
with declaration of clearance for
war responsibility, would be to re-
pudiate the treaty of Versailles which
gave birth to it. 1t would be Il re-
vision Of history, contrary to fact. In
deed, the league is not qualified or
empowered to make such revision, to
Tewrite the treaty of Versailles, to alb
solve Germany from the blame that
has been formally and in the minds of
the people of all nations save those Of
the central powers of Europe been
correctly and justly placed upon her
The German cabinet will meet in
few days to consider this question of
application for league membership
upon the basis OF absolution. This
gives time for hearing from the J.
he'd countries. There can be no u1es-
ton Of their judgment. None of tiHe
League member nations that were al
. lied in 1914-1S against the war power
Of Germany and her allies can with
. any conceivable righteousness or con-
science consent to Germany's demand,
II 1t should be made. that the treaty
CT Txailles be rewritten
Dispatches from Europe on this sub.
Ject describe the present German move
for remission Of responsibility as tact
less. 1t is at least that. 1t is indeed
! foolish for the statesmen at Berlin
to expect all the advantages of league
membership in the settlement Of ques-
tons of acute moment while gaining
complete clearance on the score of
having started the conflict out of
which came her present problems and
the league itself.
Certainly somebody started the
war. somebody was responsible in 1914
for initiating the horror. At a confer
ence Of the nations held at Versailles
shortly after the close of the fighting
Germany and her allies were held ac-
countable. That verdict has been ac-
cepted by the world, and all subse-
uuent proceedings have grown out of
it. The reparations settlements --E..iich
have only lately been effected, are con-
ditioned upon that conclusion. Mere
= 70 suggest revision and remission
Of responsibility is q move that savors
OF bad faith, with something more
tangible and practical than league
membership in view, however valu-
able that may be to Germany. Any
weakening of the treaty on this score
by league declaration at Germany's
instance would impeach the whole
reparation compact and start the
process Of reputation.
Germany has lately met the repara-
ton requirements under the newly
adopted plan in a manner to win ad-
miration. Now to move, by even a
gesture, for political purposes for abb
solution from responsibility for the
war is to revive the suspicious Of the
world.