FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1920. GERMANY'S APPEAL FOR EASIER CONDITIONS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXXI, Issue LXXXI, 14 May 1920, Page 4

FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1920. GERMANY'S APPEAL FOR EASIER CONDITIONS.

It is impassible for anybody at this distance from Europe and with the limited detailed information available to state with any degree of certainty what the real economic and industrial position of the defeated nations is or to say how far Germany is acting honestly in her appeals to the Allies for lighter conditions. So often in the past have nations iby clever misrepresentation of facts managed to evade their responsibilities that one is inclined to view with great suspicion such appeals as those put forward from time to time by the German leaders. Ludendorff in his memoirs adopts the peculiar attitude of apologist for Germany's defeat, and protests against the heavy terms which Germany had to accept, but at the same time there is not lacking a characteristic arrogance running through his apologia. The Germans seem to waver between arrogance—whenever they think advantage may be gained from that attitude —and utter despondency when they hope to gain anything from that course. But there is no sign of penitence. This mixture is noticeable in the cabled statement of Dr. Wirth's views. "Germany," he says, "bases her main hopes of industrial recovery on the forthcoming Spa Conference. It is essential that the Allies should remove the uncertainty regarding the amount of reparation payable by Germany. They must fix a sum Germany can pay. It is impossible to hope for a recovery of German industry while the sword of Damocles is held over her head. Europe's reconstruction depends on the i Allies." Nobody can find much fault with that statement } but we note that there is something of & defiant tone in his admission that "the Allies can force Germany to accept any terms, but it would, require an army of occupation of 2,000,000 men to force -unwill- j ing Germany to work." But apart al- j together from German protests there I can be no doubt but that the economic! situation in Central Europe is very serious, more so perhaps in the lands of Germany's allies than in Germany, and 1 the position with which the Allied leaders are faced is most difficult. If it were possible to trust the Germans —^surely no one would even suggest that they should be trusted—the 'restoration of Europe's social and industrial life would be difficult enough, but the failure of the Gerniuiiß to give even the slightest indication of a willingness to act honorably and straightforwardly adds infinitely to the difficulties. The Allies do not find the least satisfaction in the 'terrible distress prevailing in Europe and are ready to do all they can to relieve it. Yet Justice and the high ideals which the Allies defended at an awful cost in life demand that the nations which thi-ew the world into the terrors of warfare for no purpose other than to gratify their selfish passions for conquest must be punished. The question arises: Are the terms of the Treaty

too severe? After careful and, no doubt, very accurate investigation of the conditions and possibilities in Germany the Allies drew up certain demands which they called upon Germany to obey, and though Germany protested her Government promised that she would do her best. More recent happenings have shown that Germany has cunningly and intentionally evaded trying to do the things required of her under the terms, and now that the Allies have shown their determination that some effort shall be made by Germany to honor her promises we find appeals are being made for easier terms. We think that such lack of good will on Germany's part and her scheming to gain time and to cause dissension among the Allies are reasons for the Allied decision to insist on observance of the terms. There are many excuses being made for Germany by leading men, but we are inclined to think that their arguments do not take into consideration the happenings of the past few years and the dreadful sufferings which Germany forced upon the Allied nations. If Germany is to escape adequate punishment it simply means that defenders of countries against cruel aggressors are to endure all the hardships which warfare brings, and the attackers are to escape with only that suffering which they choose for themselves. If such is to be accepted as a policy, then it will encourage warfare, the very negation of the Allies' desire, which was that war should be made as unattractive and, as far as humanly possible, bad business for the nation which seeks to wage it. As George Washington said:" "We ought not to look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors and for the purpose of profiting jby dearly experience." Britain's error in pre-war days was that sh« trusted Germany, and the Empire's experience was very dearly bought. In these days, therefore, our nation and its Allies must act with full regard for their dearly-bought experience, and though the conference at Spa may find that some of the clauses of the Treaty may be modified slightly, Germany cannot expect anything more than bare justice and a clear indication from the Allies that she must make a. definite beginning to carry out her obligations, the just penalty for her forcing upon the world an unjust and unnecessary war.