The Dominion. MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1915. "THE UTTERMOST FARTHING"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2433, 12 April 1915, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1915. "THE UTTERMOST FARTHING"

Viscount Bryce is of opinion that the cost of rebuilding Belgium should be borne by the Power which has deliberately and wantonly wrecked and devastated tho coun-, try. According to a cablegram which appeared in Saturday's issue of The Dominion, he declared that "those who destroyed the Belgian cities and inflicted poverty and hardship on. the peoplo ought to be made to pay to the uttermost farthing." It is difficult to understand how the most infatuated advocate of the "don't humiliate Germany" policy can.take exception to the view that the Germans should be compelled to repair the havoc they have wrought. Yet wo know that some people are so shocked at the idea of striking a sharp and salutary blow at Teutonic insolence and pride that they are already pleading with the Allies not to impose an indemnity on Germany. Lord Bryce is a man of peace. The promotion' of goodwill among the nations has been one of tho main efforts of his life. But he, no doubt, realises that the cause of international peace and goodwill is not eoing to bo furthered by permitting criminal nations to carry fire and sword through the world without being called to the fullest account for their evil deeds. Such nations must be taught that their crimes will not be allowed to go unpunished; that a terrible day of reckoning will inevitably come when an "equal retribution must be made." It is unfortunately only too true that nothing can "compensate for the harm done in the shape of the deaths and sufferings of innocent people," but for that very reason it is all the more necessary that the Allies should resblvc that every wrong suffered by the Belgians that can he righted shall be righted: Justice demands that "the uttermost farthing" shall be paid. Those who are responsible for tho "don't humiliate Germany" movement seem to think that anyone who insists that Germany should be made to pay is actuated by a spirit of malice, revenge, and vindictivencss. Must bare justice be denied to the Belgians merely because an indemnity would be bitterly resented by the Germans ? Are we to be generous to Germany in this matter at the expense of Belgium 1 Lord Bryce evidently thinks not and his demand for the fullest possible compensation will meet with tho whole-souled approval of the overwhelming majority of the men and women of the British Empire. Retribution and reparation are essential elements of any adequate conception of justice. Punishment has been described as the "other half of crime." The sense of justice is one of the foundation principles'of our moral nature, and it will be outraged if Germany is not compelled to bear the cost of the ravages caused by her exhibitions of "frightfulness" in France, Belgium, and Poland. A great Greek poet tells us that In life there is a seesaw; if we shape ■ Our actions to our humours, other hands May shape thou- consequences to our pain. These lines_ express the Greek idea of retributive justice. Lord Buyce gives 'us an attractive vision of "a new Belgium,", happy and prosperous,, and "never losing tho admiration of iiKUikind" for the splendid spirit in which she has faced this terrible crisis in her history. It is to be hoped that after" Belgium hits passed through her fiery ordeal a new and brighter career will open out before her. A nation which has shown such wonderful fortitude in adversity may be relied upon to get to work with energy and determination to rebuild its commerce and industries, and f«s!«n Its lilat-r, miiv imii'n «.-. qua of the busiest ami wobl m'Qs.uei'pus

countries of. Europe. The fact that Loud Biute's speech was made at the opening of the Belgian TownPlanning Exhibition reminds us

that when the time for restoration comes the people who believe that use and beauty ought to go hand in hand will have a magnificent opportunity of putting their theories into practice on a large scale. Some time ago an international movement was started for the "rebuilding of Belgium into one of the garden siJots of the world." The meeting addressed by Loud Bryce is no doubt one of the results of this movement. A writer in the New York Evening Post states that the idea is to erect in the devastated cities, towns, and villages model . homes, which, while preserving as much as possible the picturcsqucness of the buildings levelled by the guns of war, wilh exemplify the best examples of community building. It is satisfactory to know that the Garden Cities _ and Town-Planning Association which has taken the 1 matter up is well aware that the task of creating a .new Belgium on the •lines indicated is not by any means a simple one. The dangers,are almost as great as the opportunities. There, is the danger of sacrificing health and utility in order to satisfy an excessive craving for the picturesque. This will have to be' guarded against. But it is just as necessary to avoid the depressing sameness of cities of immaculate model dwellings designed by medical and sanitary experts who care nothing for art cr architecture. An attempt to copy the architectural ideas and ideals of the past would be doomed to failure, for it would only mean that the old insanitary conditions would be perpetuated, while the attractiveness that age and historical associations alone can give would be lacking. Every age should be able to embody its own conceptions of "the city beautiful" in its town-planning and architecture, The object of every sane system of town-planning should be to secure the right balance between the claims of use and beauty. Now is the time to examine from all points of view the problems relating to the rebuilding of Belgium, and to lay down broad principles for guidance when the time for action comes. A fine opportunity was lost in connection with the rebuilding of San Francisco after the great earthquake and fire. A plan'was prepared but in the haste and confusion that prevailed the scheme was thrust aside. The new San Francisco which sprang, rapidly into existence was very much like the old city, and a rare chance was missed. The advocates of town-planning_ throughout the world will watch with intense interest the progress of the movement to rebuild the Belgian towns in such a manner that they will be pleasant ,to look at and also meet all the requirements of the industrial life of the people. The town planners will have an opportunity of proving that there is no inevitable connection between material progress and ugliness, and that art and industry are not necessarily antipathetic.