Evening star., 1927-09-30

A statement by Marshal Won Hin
denburg, former military leader and
now President Of the German Repub-
lie, denying German guilt in the World
War has been received by Americans
in spirit that indicates no change in
the verdict already given. Yet. while
Americans do not exonerate the for
mer Kaiser's government, there are
some expressions Of willingness to
submit the question to an impartial
tribunal in the interest of historical
accuracy in the future. There Is
tendency to direct attention to the
Belgian invasion and submarine war
fare.
"The new German nation, the
democracy" comedies the Flint Daily
Journal, "is being accepted by the
other powers in a friendly spirit; the
bygones of a militaristic age are more
or less being treated as bygones.
Germany has champions among her
former enemies at the bar of world
opinion. She is headed toward re-
habilitation and respect. She will
make a serious mistake to use her new
prestige to defend the acts of her war
lords, whom she herself repudiated."
The Louisville Courier-Journal en-
phasiZes the point that "the World
War has been fought and decided !;
that 'it will not be fought over again
because Hindenburg declines to as
perse the memory OF his fallen com
rades with an acknowledgment OF war
guilt or the allies refuse to abide by
the implications Of his speech that
they were aggressors. 1t is enough
to know" continues the Courier.Jour-
nal, that, while the Germans repudi
ate the responsibility, they had previ-
ously repudiated the Kaiser and his
regime, and that Hindenburg' dis
caimer itself is a reputation OF
Nietzsche's philosophy. Der tag
turned out to be the day the German
Republic was acclaimed"
"In a way, the fact that the Ger
| mans insist that they did not start
the war" suggests the Worceste"
| Telegram, "may be regarded as an
encouraging sign. 1t is evidence that
| they do not worship war as an lnstl-
| tuition, as they once appeared to DO
| The rest of the world surely would
not enjoy living side by side with a
Germany glorying in her share IN set
| ting things ablaze in August, 1914
The Altoona Mirror, regarding the
controversy as futile, says: what
| our European friends need to 90 Is 10
| quit accusing each other and make
| an honest effort to promote friendly
| feelings, rather than exasperate each
other by foolish talk about things that
cannot be helped. In their secret
| hearts they know that each nation
| contributed to the controversies and
the accusations which brought on the
war. The past is fixed. Why not turn
| hopefully toward the future?"
"The war has ended. Its diabolism
| is a thing of the past. There Is now
peace. All nations are interesting
| themselves in it's maintenance" de-
clares the Nashville Banner, with the
added advice: yet it should be estab-
lished definitely and for all time what
nation or what group Of rulers is en-
titled to the odium of what took place
during the years 1914-18. This is due
all the nations involved-France, Rus
sia, Italy, Great Britain, Germany
all Of them. There should be an in
vestigation, fair one, not for the pur-
pose of protracting hatred, but that
| the truth may be known to history
and injustice done none. Doubtless
| the declaration of one so high in au-
thority as Won Hndenburg will bring
about such an investigation" The
Muskegon Chronicle also advises that
1.-The allied powers would prove them
selves worthy of credit for a great
sincerity, q high sense of honor and
justice If they would accept the chal-
lenge, agree upon an impartial tribu-
nal, present their proofs and let Ger.
many do likewise"
ITO us 1t seems an abstract prob.
lem," states the Philadelphia Public
Ledger, but to France, Germany and
the rest of Europe 1t is extremely con.