Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-11-08
Diary Makes
Versailles
Treaty Mild
Pact's Cruelty Justified
by Hugh Gibson q
By wEsTBROOK PEGLER

deliberate cruelty OF the
treaty of Versailles. particularly ,
by Adolf Hitler in his appeal to
the self-pity of the Germans.
that this document might seem
TO have been written with the
sole intention of inflicting hurt
on a beaten but gallant and hon.
orable foe.
The wisdom Of the treaty will
always be open to discussion. but
the contention that il was wan
tonly cruel fares badly when II Is
considered against the conduct
of the Germans in the first
World War.
incidentally. then, as now, the
point was made that the German
people, of course. were not at
fault, but were only carrying out
the orders of their bosses.
Today, again, when 100
Frenchmen are selected at ran
dom out of pen. as a farmer
grabs chickens for the Ak, and
shot in reprisal for the unsolved
murder of a German officer. the
German people are innocent.
But, in the presence of this
new horror, the thought natu-
rally occurs that the German
people are a great menace to all
non-German peoples for the very
reason that they are forever be.
ing driven by such bosses as the
kaiser and the fuehrer.
DUT the attitude and conduct
- of the German armies
is all that the victims have to
judge the German people by In
these recurring tragedies and
certainly the terms imposed CT
the Germans after 1918 WEI
not harsh by comparison with
the actions of their soldiers
when Germany was riding high.
That conduct was not re-
/, peated at their expense by the
victorious armies OF the Allies,
for there is in the record of the
limited occupation nothing COM
parable TO scenes described by
Hugh Gibson, who was the Sec
rotary of the American legation
in Belgium in 1914.
Mr.. Gibson kept diary which
was published in book form
later which strongly suggests
that whether they serve one
master or another the German
military men retain certain
characteristics and ideas that
are inherent.
Visiting Louvain after the
sack and slaughter, Mr.. Gibson
reminded the German officer
who was conducting the party
that The Hague convention for
bade collective penalties for the
lawless acts of individuals.
GLE DISMISSED that TO his
H own satisfaction" Mr..
Gibson wrote. "by remarking
that all Belgians are dogs and
would do these things (sniping)
unless they are taught what
will happen TO them,'" an atti-
tude which has now been openly
adopted toward the Poles by
the Nazi invaders.
with hard CLINT he told us
the purpose Of his work; the
burden of what he had to say,
was something like this: We
shall make this place n desert.
For generations people will como
TO see what we have done and
IL will teach them tn respect
Germany and think twice before
they resist her." ~
when the German govers
ment realized the horror and
loathing with which the civilized
world learned Of the fate Of
Louvain, the orders were cam
eeled and the story sent out
that the German forces had
tried 20 prevent the destruction.
Never has government lie9
more brazenIy. When we arrives
the destruction was being car
ried out I'm an orderly way that
showed careful preparation. It
was only when he learned how
civilization regarded his crimes
that the kaiser's heart began to
bleed"
ssIN ANDENNE and SeiIIes,"
Il Mr.. Gibson wrote. "the Ger
mans killed about 500. Accord
ing to the inhabitants Who
remain there was reign Of
terror during which the Ger
mans rendered themselves guilty.
Of every sort OF atrocity and
barbarity. IL seems 30 be gen.
orally believed that the massacre
was due TO resistance Of retiring
Belgian troops. Whatever the
provocation the German conduct
was that Of savages."
In Dinant, he wrote:
"The Germans set out TO pill
lage and shoot. They drove the
people to the streets and set fire
to the houses. Those who tried
to run away were shot. The con-
gregation was taken from tho
church and 80 Of the men were
shot. All the civilians who
could be rounded up were driven
into the square. The women
were lined up on one side. On
the other side the men were
lined up In two rows, the first
kneeling. Then two voIleys were