THE COLONIST. FRIDAY, MAY 9, 1919. THE TREATY.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15067, 9 May 1919, Page 4

THE COLONIST. FRIDAY, MAY 9, 1919. THE TREATY.

To-day it is possible for' the world to - judge the work of the Peace Conference '' which for four months has been deliber- .! ating upon the terms of settlement of j: the war and a host of cognate subjects.,!' When this cumbrous conclave assembled many saw in its unwieldiness a grave' danger of breakdown. The Conference saw it too, and signified the fact by delegating the decisive functions to a group of statesmen which'grew progressively smaller, until, when Italy withdrew the other day over the Fiume dispute, the fate of the world was left in the hands of a Council of Three, consisting of President Wilson, Mr Lloyd George, and M. Clemenceau. The energies of the rest of the plenipotentiaries, of whom there were many, were absorbed in the complementary work of the nu-' merous Commissions framing recommen-! dations on various subjects to be dealt: with in the Treaty. For the rest they were not even onlookers, for the Big Pour, afterwards the Big Three, sat behind closed doors, and submitted only their conclusions as a whole for the approval of their minor colleagues. There has been a lurking fear throughout that the politicians might in compromise and . concession give away the Allies' case, i i or at least compromise the cause which i the soldiers, won. This apprehension increased as the scope of the Conference ; widened to include a variety of su!b- , jects which went far beyond its imme*. ,|diate objects. On the whole the Treaty proves these fears to have been unfounded, though it is likely enough that the • gloomy prognostications of the correspondents of breakdown through various l disagreements came near to fulfilment on . more than one occasion. Our readers are now in possession of the vital chapters of the Treaty. It is too stupen- [ ddus a" document to be read once and t then discussed with facility, but a cur- | sory examination, of its stipulations suffices to show that it redeems the pro- '• mise of the Allied Governments that the terms would encompass condign punishment of the- nation which plunged the world in the misery of .the greatest war in history, and; right historic wrongs perpetrated by that country and its criminal associates in the last half-century. When the provisions of the Treaty are fulfilled Germany will have paid a terrible penalty for her crime, although in some respects the penalty may be considered too lenient. There are, however, criticaldays to be passed before the penalties can be exacted. No doubt the German plenipotentiaries will accept the terms, even to the financial provisions, but with mental reservations, we I can well imagine. Germans, whether they call themselves Junkers, Social Democrats, or Spartacusians, are still Germans, a people without honour or compunction. To them, as we know, a treaty is a mere scrap of paper, and its observance is only to be assured <by .1 lively dread of the consequences of doing otherwise. The fulfilment of the Peace Treaty will require the compulsion of I force majeure, and it may lead us into many troubles and anxieties before the last page is turned. The final stage of the Conference will not now be long deferred; that is to say, as far as Germany is concerned. It is understood that a fortnight will be allowed for consideration of the terms, and then a week for discussion by interchange of notes/ At the end of that'time the Treaty must be either accepted or rejected. ~ j