Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-07
Ten Years After.

Almost exactly ten years after the
allied and associated powers required
Germany to sign on the dotted line al
Versailles-on June %, 19l9-the same
high contracting parties have concluded
another treaty of peace. In Paris TINS
afternoon the separations agreement
patched up after four months OF patient
negotiation, is formally to be perfected
bv signature of the creditor and debtor
experts.
II is a momentous event. The world
at large will take only passing interest
in its financial details, gigantic as tnese
are. So far has modern mankind
marched In the presence of huge figures
thanks to the cost of the Great war
in life and treasure, that the average
snnuities of $500 100000 imposed upon
the Germans for thirty-seven years.
with tventy-one succeeding years OF
annuities tapering down from S24o,ooo'-
600. arouse only casual attention.
On two points the nations are not
likely to be nonchalant as they con-
template the reparations settlement
First. they will soliloquize what 1t meant
to the German people to be catspaWs
in the hands of their militarists. Gen
erations vet unborn will be paying LOT
the war which the Hohenzollerns ana
their spurred and helmeted abettors
spawned.
To bismarck, who in 1871 required
France to pay what was in those Gays
held tn be a crushing indemnity OF
5000, 900 ,000-the famous "mllllaro Oh
gold francs-in addition to restoring
Alsace and Lorraine, is attributed the
aphorism that a conquered foe "snouio
be left naught but eyes to weep WIN
For f1fty-eight yeas from this day.
Germany is now pledged to pay and pay
and nav for the grand folly OF 1914.
Financially, to adopt the repuIeo
Bismarckian idion, her eyes should De
blood red with tears before the fabulous
burden is discharged.
Secondly, the world will see in the maj
adoption of the Young plan an augury
of genuine peace and fresh hope tor all
Europe. Germany stands, despite the
heavy task she must shoulder, to pront
most of all. The fantastic PREPARATIONS
total of sl32,ooo 100000 originally
assessed against her has been cut 70
something more than $4,000, OOO,o 600
German demands for definite f1Xation OF
her obligations have been met. Ger
man requirements for radical reductlon
of the gross amount have been gener-
o,sIv acceded to. German nslstence
nm limitation of her payments. in bulk
az well as by installments, to demon
strated capacity to pay, has been re-
spected. German minor conditions were
agreed to in a spirit of compromise.
DR.. Schacht, the Reichsbank head
and chief German negotiator at Paris
when asked if he were not happy at tne
conferences final success, lamented that
no German, in the face of the huge ma
hiltty the Fatherland now accepts, coulo
he "happy." Yet the hour is bound 70
dawn-snd Germany's we'll wishers nope
It may be soon-when today's events III
Paris will be looked upon as having
ushered in not only for Germany, ou'
for Europe and the world at large,
Renaissance of economic tranquility
and political harmony.
All concerned have paid terrible
nrice for the experiences which drenched
the earth in blood and agony between
1914 and 1918. If the world, reminded
IN Germany's case, of the high cost OF
war, resolves never again to indulge II
its sanguinary extravaganza, the Peace
of Paris, 1929, will live to be OF ever
greater significance than the Peace o.
Versailles, 1919.