THE PEACE TREATY

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 19, 17 October 1933, Page 8

THE PEACE TREATY

It will take some time for the commotion caused by Germany s latest action to subside, and a clear view of the prospect to become possible. In the meantime it may be of interest to take one statement by a German newspaper, the Ifossische Leitung, that the Treaty of Versailles has been repudiated, and examine it. Many hard things have been said about this Treaty, and some of these are justified. Under the terms of the Treaty Germany was deprived of a vast area of territory in Europe and abroad, her armed forces were reduced to the bare minimum considered necessary for her domestic requirements, and she was bound over to pay a huge .sum in reparations. . Furthermore, the Allies were convinced that unless the I eutonic Powers were so reduced in naval and military strength as to be no longer capable of resorting to aggressive policies, there would be no security in Europe. . These were the outstanding questions that had to be determined at Versailles. There were a multitude of others, among which was a covenant on the part of the other Powers to take up the question of disarmament when circumstances permitted. Provision was also made for the terms of- the Treaty to be revised, should revision seem necessary in the future. Under .the conciliatory policy of the late Dr. Stresemann, Germany was steadily regaining the confidence of her late enemies. .TJie Rhine territory was evacuated at an earlier date than had been originally fixed, and the reparations debt was varied from time to time on a descending scale until at Lausanne the payments were suspended --to all intents and purposes cancelled. That in itself was a substantial act of Treaty revision. The Powers have also carried out a considerable measure of disarmament, and. had already agreed to concede the principle, of equality to Germany, to be made effective within a stated period? They would also have almost certainly succeeded in adopting a further definite programme of disarmament had it not been for the attitude of Herr Hitler and the aggressiveness of the Nazis. Herr Hitler now claims that the attitude of the others is unreasonable. Is it not that he himself is unreasonable ? On the whole, having regard to her actions in the past, Germany has received considerate treatment. The trouble seems to be that she has taken indulgence for weakness and is now playing a dangerous game of bluff.