Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-11

for the first decade of peace.
Ten years after the last gun was
fired in the greatest of all wars, how
shall one estimate the consequences of
the victory? What hopes and fears of
that day, already remote, have proved
justified by later events?
Looking backward every one will recall
that the first and the greatest appre-
hension was lest the armistice had come
too soon and enabled the Germans to
escape from the consequences of their
defeat. Wilson was indicted for having
carried on correspondence over the
heads of the generals. Unconditional
surrender was then the motto of MANY
American newspapers and leaders and
the wish for an advance to Berlin and
a dictated peace was expressed on all
sides.
Victory Held Complete.
Today, however. it is clear that these
anXleties were unwarranted No further
lighting could possibly have added to
the completeness of the military defeat.
to the discrediting of the military ele-
ment. When the armistice arrived the
Kaiser and the Crown Prince were fugi-
yves, Germany was a republic and
Ludendorf had been deposed and was
a refugees in Sweden. Actually democ-
racy In Germany was engaged in a
desperate fight with bolshevism and a
prolongation of the war would almost
inevitably have led to a red triumph
on the home front.
Ten years ago it was usual to regard
the German republic as unreal and as
mere piece of eyewash designed tn
deceive the allies and pave the way to
SOFT peace and to an ultimate re-
TURN OF the monarchy. But today it is
clear that the revolution of the 9th of
November was real and lasting. The
republic now is stronger than at anv
moment since it's inception. The
chancellor of the empire is a social
democrat and the coalition government
is made up of the parties which are
Solldly committed to the republic,
Nor Is 1t less clear that in the real
sense OF the word GERMANY is dis
armed. The moral disarmament is
vastly more complete than the material
Inc soldier has lost his position, the old
n1alloillty has disappeared. The glory
tnat belonged to the army as a conse-
quence OF the triumphS of the last
century, SadoWa and Sedan, has been
world War, of which the first Marine
was the most shattering to prestige.
High German Command Hit.
All informed Germans know now
mat the German high command lost
the war by its stupidity in the opening
campaign and precipitated a humiliat-
ing surrender at the end by reason of
It's panic following the September re-
verses
So much of the war aims of 1918
have, then, been realized. Germany is
republican and in the German republic
the military branch Is under the con-
trol OF the civil. There is no danger
OF return of the Kaiser or of a mill
tary coupe d'etat. Germany is peace
ful. leadership is in the hands of the
parties and men who are identified with
peaceful program. So far it is diff
cult to see any qualification to the
Judgment that the hopes of the armi-
stice have been realized.
On the other hand certain facts are
already beginning to disturb European
craftsmanship. German recovery from
the consequences of defeat and revolu-
ton has been rapid in recent years.
Today despite all the losses of popula-
ton incident to the peace treaties, Ger
many is numerically as strong as in
1914 and France as weak. Industrially
restored to operation. On the sea a
new German merchant feet is regaining
the place held by the old.
New Demands Formulated.
This new Germany. while manifestly
pacific, has already given notice of two
decisions: It will not consent perman-
emily to remain forcibly disarmed in
the midst of the armed states of the
continent. 1t will not accept as per-
manent the frontiers laid down in the
Paris treaty. 1t demands the extension
of disarmament to all European states
and 1t insists upon revision of its
frontiers on the Polish side. In addi-
ton, it is steadily preparing for ulti-
mate union with Austria.
AS to forcible disarmament, this can
continue as long as allied troops re-
main on German soil, but that occupa-
ton will end in 1885 at the latest. AS
to. the eastern frontiers, once Germany
RECEIVERS her military strength, she will
be able to insist, sword in hand, upon
the revision Of the Versailles treaty
AS to Austria, time works steadily for
the Anschluss and once Germany has
recovered her freedom and her strength,
it is hard to believe she will shrink
from the realization of the greater
Germany.
On the other hand, it is perfectly
clear that neither the French nor the
British would at present agree to per-
NIT Germany to arm again as she was
armed in 1914. 1t is equally clear that
France and Poland would fight rather
than permit a revision of the Polish
frontier. Finally, it Is IlnmiStakable
that France, Poland and Czechoslovakia
would take up arms to prevent the
union of Austria and Germany.
Thus. despite all the outwardly
peaceful situation, it is not less I'M
mistakable that the German problem
is extremely disquieting. Obviously
there is no present peril of war, but,
on the other hand there is nothing
which suggests the arrival of state
OF permanent peace. All that exists in
Europe today is truce between the
Germans and their conquerors, which
Is imposed by the weakness of all.
In this situation the League of
Nations can do nothing, because it can
only take the anti-German side. 1t
is bound to support the status quo 1t
is condemned to deal with any German
effort to force revision as an aggression. !
1t is thus inevitably the machine which !
would be employed by the French. the |
Poles and the Czechs to give moral |
sanction TO their determination TO pre- |
vent any revision of the peace treaties. |
If the Germans and the Austrians
should. following a plebiscite. attempt !
to unite, the League would be bound |
to take this as an aggression and !
license France and her allies to make |
defensive war upon Germany.
Nor can the Kellogg pact have any |
bearing upon the problem. For it, too, |
deprives the Germans Of any relief. |
If they unite with the Austrians, the |
Kellogg pact justifles attack upon Ger |
many as a mere matter of self-defense |
for France and the Slav States, whose |
very existence would be imperiled by |
such an expansion of German popula- |
ton and territories.
Polish Position Stated.