Evening star., 1924-03-25

When Count Won Bernstorff remind
ed his people that they laid down
arms in the world war, not because
of any fourteen points," but because
army headquarters urged an -armi-
stice to prevent disaster, admittedly
he is only relating historical facts.
The fact that Bernstorf, who has
become a powerful factor in the new
Germany, is asking his countrymen
to accept the bitter truth and be
guided by it is typical of the whole
trend in the Teutonic republic, in the
opinion of the American press. Ger
many is making a spectacular and
genuine economic comeback due to
finally facing the facts, editors say.
These editors agree further that Ger
many never had a better friend than
Woodrow Wilson.
Had it not been for woodrow Will
son, "the allies, intoxicated with vic
tory, would have hacked Germany to
bits" in the opinion of the Milwau-
kee Journal, which goes on 20 say,
In time, when the passions aroused
by defeat have cleared away, most
of Won Bernstorffs countrymen will
come to see these things, and when
they do they will also realize that
the only nation that might have Kept
a cool head in forcing the terms of
the treaty was removed from the
council table when a little clique of
politicians deceived the friends of
Germany and others in this country
into supporting their rejection of the
World sees it, won Bernstorff's most
important contribution to the truth
of history is his reminder, but for
Mr.. Wilson Germany would have
lost the Rhine and the valley OF the
Saar, which is one of the reasons that
a monument to Wilson will one day
be raised in the city of Berlin
x X !; r
The wholesome truth is the medi-
cine the Germans need, according to
the Spokane Spokesman Review,
which declares their supreme need
is leaders of frankness and courage,
who will strike the scales from their
eyes and bring them to a true under
standing" Until recently, the Salt
Lake Tribune suggests, "only one Ger
man of prominence, Maximilian Har-
den, has combated the German view
point against wilson Although, the
Tribune recalls, there was time
resented Wilson's attitude as entire
ly too pro-German, it required some
time to permit these Frenchmen to
discern the basis of Wilson's policy"
but whether the Germans will come
to read the history of the peace con-
ference Alright remains to be SEEN
Bernstorff's article is merely one
more fact for Germany to face, the
Grand Rapids Herald points out, and
1.-The farther Germany follows this
habit of facing facts and the quicker
all Europe emulates it the happier
ard speedier will be normalcy's re-
the facts, the Duluth Herald feels, "he
does well to rebuke the truculent
clamor raised by the press of his
country; the fourteen points were an
athena in most German circles until
all else had been tried and had failed"
The pivotal point in the case, the
wichita Eagle maintains, lis that
Germany just before the end of the
war asked wilson's Intervention and
was mighty glad to get it," and Ito
state the fact now Is rather belated
justice, but Bernstorff has done it and
it is better late than never" The
no significance to the matter, because
"Bernstorff's pretended service in his
behalf at this late day represents
nothing of the slightest interest to
those who know that Wilson has al
lready passed into history as the great
est figure of his day and generation"
The Butte Miner agrees that "PreSi-
dent wilson's place in history never
will depend on the German version Of
him." and '.as far as Count Won Bern
storff coming TO his defense, the