The Wanganui Chronicle " Nulla Dies Sine Linea." SATURDAY, MAY 10th, 1919. THE ALLIES' PEACE TERMS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 7567, 10 May 1919, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle " Nulla Dies Sine Linea." SATURDAY, MAY 10th, 1919. THE ALLIES' PEACE TERMS.

Not at a first glance is impossible to arrive at definite conclusions -as to the wisdom and equity of the terms upon which the Allied nations have signified their willingness to make peace with Germany. The comprehensive summary of the Treaty, the concluding por. tion of which we publish this morning, gives us a clear view of the fundamental features of the momentous docament, but it is evident that until the full text is available, enabling an examination of its manifold and necessjir* ily complicated details, it would be imprudent even to speculate as to the immediate effect and ultimate consequence of Germany's acceptance of the conditions as they stand. Already th«r<? are indications that Belgium is dissatisfied, and that the provisions relating to mercantile shipping are such as .vill, if they are confirmed by the Allied Powers and accepter] by Germany, operate to tho undue advantage of the United States. The fact that the pulvlication of the basic features of the Treaty has been so soon followed by the Rounding of sundry.discordant notes such as we Kiva cited, is in itsoif «nffi T cient to warrant the witholding of detailed criticism until all the facts have been placed clearly before us. Broadly speaking, however, there appears to bo ample justification for the assumption that the representatives of the Allies have not erred on the side of undue leniency. Those who entertained misgivings to the contrary will see, to 'their relief and satisfaction, that stern justice is the outstanding characteristic of the pact to which Germany has been asked to set her jeal. After five months of earnest consultation the delegates to tho Peace Conference havo completed their most difiicailt task, and although, as was inevitable, the widely-conflicting interests Involved numerous very delicate sifctMtions, the finished product of their joiuc efforts proves to the anxiously waiting world that they havo not found it impossible to reach agreement in regard to a!! the really vital issues. Briefly stated, the Treaty provides for the effective disarmament of Germany, assigns her future boundaries on .'incs designed to secure the safety of lior neoghbour States arid reduce to insignificant proportions her power to ag.tin disturb tho peace of Europe, and r«qnires her to make, to the limit of her ability, reparation for the mischief she has done. Stripped of her navy sinl her colonips, compelled to restore to Franco the rich territories of AlsaceLorraine and the S:mr Valley, sadtl'e-J with o liability running into thousands of millions, burdened with the obligation of making good from lw»r own shipyards every ton of Allied shipping for the destruction of which slu> wn« responsible, and with heraartym t y reduced

to the proportions of a domestic police force, the Great German Empire cea;v?s to exist. In its place a new —and, lot us hope, a chastened —Germany must be content to rank among the secondary Powers. If this new Germany is sincere in her repentance, if her reupblicanism is not mere camouflage, I the Treaty wild bo signed without any ! unwarrantable hesitancy or bombastic haggling. The terms may be hard;' but they are not unjust, and they are j marked by «i measure of clemency ?nct consideration for which, we fear, w;> should have had to look in vain had Germany been the dictator instead of the suppliant.