The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-05
Liberal Viewpoint

HITLER has never aroused my enthusiasm
i i and he does not today. Yet unworthy peo-
pie have often in history been the instruments
of worthy cause Such may Hitler prove today
if the other states have the wisdom to exploit
the opportunity. menace to peace may be
turned into the most important step toward
peace since 1919. I have reference to Hitlers
unwavering demand for the revision of the
Treaty of Versailles.
In this demand he has at least 80 per cent
if not indeed 100 per cent-of moral right on
his side. He asserts that all he wishes is rea-
sonable revision of the treaty.
The Allied Powers will do we'll to call his
bluff on this matter. If events prove that Hitler
will be satisfied with treaty revision, then this
will put an end to the Hitler DOGGY and give
Europe chance to get over the filters. If he
continues his swashbuckling after he has OBJ
tanned revision that will prove him q miltaristic
menace rather than a crusader for political and
diplomatic justice. He will not have moral
leg to stand on.
Nothing will be lost for Europe even if this
last possibility works out in fact. European
peace, Hitler or no Hitler, will be far easier to
preserve after the revision that Hitler demands
has been conceded.
TINE Allied Powers will no longer have to be
i continually on the moral defensive. Today
they in the role of robbers who are posing
opponents of law and order while hanging
tenaciously to most of their loot. Hitler only
asks that they surrender part of it, If the Allied
Powers would remove the milestone of the Ver-
sailles Treaty from their neck their work as
peacemakers would be far easier and executed
in much better taste.
If there are two propositions that are SUBJ
Scribed to by informed and intelligent students
of world politics today they are: Cd that the
Versailles Treaty was one of the most treacher-
Gus and vindictive treaties in the history of di-
plomacy; and CD that there is no prospect of
preserving peace of Europe unless the pact of
Versailles is modified in harmony with fact and
justice.
Not even those who made the Versailles set
Element defend it now. Woodrow Wilson was so
disillusioned about it away back in 1919 that he
turned away from it even before it was signed
and devoted his efforts to furthering the League
of Nations which he believed would help to undo
the injustices of Versailles. Lloyd George makes
no bones about the mistakes of Versailles in his
voluminous autobiography. Only Clemenceau
might defend it if the Tiger were to arise from
the grave.
IF the Versailles arrangement ought to be fold
i ed up in any event, then it presents two
fold opportunity for good if the Allies can at
the same time pull Hitlers teeth. Until the Allies
reSolutely and frankly face realities in this mat
ter, they will always be confronted with the
dilemma of having, on the one hand to hold
that the Treaty of Versailles must be sustained
and, on the other, to hear most OF their compe-
tent publicstS proclaim that the treaty is morally
indefensible and practically unentorceable.
1 abhor Hitler and the whole system which
he stands for-autocracy, higotry, ignorance, re-
preston Of freedom, mob antics and the like
But his international policy is not so easy to
criticize, except, perhaps his brutally frank mode
of procedure.
What does he ask? Merely freedom of Ger
many to arm on the basis of equality with other
nations Of like size and prestige and the natural
and desirable union of Germany and German
Austria step urged by intelligent historians
publicistS and statesmen.
No sane person without an ak to grind can
well oppose the voluntary union of Germany and
AUSTRIA Germany for years gave Europe plenty
of opportunity to disarm to the German level.
So Europe can not very well take holier- than
thou attitude when Germany proposes equality
of armament on the non-German basis
If all that Hitler asks is rearmament and
union with Austria as the price of Germany's re-
entry into the League. then Europe may con-
slider itself lucky Germany can be denied these
aspirations only on the ground that she is a
pariah nation. She can not be expected to re-
enter the League until that insinuation is frank
ly obliterated. The rest of Europe can not put
Hitler and Germany in bad light until its own
policies surpass his in logic, frankness and
candor.