THE HOUR OF DECISION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 229, 21 June 1919, Page 6

THE HOUR OF DECISION

The time granted t'o Germany in which I" sign the Treaty of Versailles expires this evening at six o'clock—on Sunday morning by New 'Zealand time. Availablemessages bearing oil the attitude-of-the German Government and its delegates are so far in conflict as In leave their decision a matter of con-, jeetiife. "' It''is apparent, however,that, the Allies are well prepared for the contingency of a refusal;by. the enemy to sign.. Not only are'they ready to advance east of the -.Rhine, ■but naval measures have been peiv. fcctecl which would make it possible to inaugurate at the'shortest notice a- far more stringent, blockade than was. imposed'on.Germany up'to the period- of. the. armisticc. Taking account further of the fact that Germany is'at present.largely dependent upon external food" supplies and thai- Cargoes of foodstuffs are held up pending her decision it is'evident that there is_ much in existing circumstances to induce the signature of the Treaty without any more ado. It is self-evident in any ease that aa obdurate refusal by the German Government to sign would connote a'determination on its'part to plunge the country into anarchy and abandon its to the Allies. An organised attcmnt to resist the imposition of the Allied, terms is out of the question. Apart from the decisive factor of food stipvd.v it is made impossible by tlic fact that the German fleet is in durance and. the Army so weakened by the armistice conditions that, the Allies would have no serious difficulty in occupying Berlin, or. for that matter, any other part of the country.