Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY, DECEMBER 29th, 1919.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1919, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY, DECEMBER 29th, 1919.

The German authorities are procrastinating in regard to tlieir duty to ratify the peace treaty, the terms of which were accepted when both the armistice njid the treaty itself were signed. No doubt Germany is encouraged in this inaction by the pojitical differences in the United States over the ramification of the treaty. G'ennany is seeking for some escape from the position to which her vaunting ambition has reduced her, Not long ago, fi contemporary recalls that Hery Erzeberger warned liis fellow countrymen that the only way to reinstate themselves in the worlds regard .was by the faithful oh--servance of the terms of the treaty, however harsh or uupalatablje these might be The advice was salutary But Germany still refused to make a yirtue of necessity, and chose a singular method of convincing the Allies ot the genuineness of hey conversion Since the armistice she lias sought for loopholes by which to evade the fulfilment of her promises, and has eagerly watched for any sign of disunion among the Alli.es which she could turn to account She made difficulties about the delivery of the material apd shipping which she had agreed to hand over She delayed her demobilisation until Marshal Foeh had to issue a sharp reminder It is now proved beyond any shadow of doubt that her Government connived at the scuttling of the ships at Scapa Flow, and though it disclaimed any responsibility for the filibustering operations of German troops in the Baltic provinces the fact remnin s that it did nothing to stop them. The .-'hole record of Germany since the cessation of hostilities is one of bad faith wherever an opportunity presented itself. It culminated in the refusal to sign the peace protocol, which brought the -Allies patience to the end' of ifs tether. The motive of this policy of deliberate evasion is clear enough. Every month that passes makes punitive action on the part of the Allies more difficult, thinks Germany. The ; garrison on the Bln'p.e has been reduced ; demobilisation has proceeded apace; I public opinion among all the belliger- ‘ cuts, now accustomed to the blessings ; of peace, may he expected to shrink from a renewal of hostilities. Germany hoped that if by protest, expostnlation, and bluff she could postpone the 1 final settlement she might escape it altogether and that the Allies would modify or waive the terms) of the treaty rather than be at the trouble of enforcing them by arms. The chief end of this manoeuvring has been, no doubt, to avoid the payment of the reparation bill—there is not the slightest question that Germany would repudiate this if she thought that she could do bo with safety, atid evidently America’s attitudo to the treaty added fuel to her hopes.

But her plausible calculations have been vitiated by a fatal error. However reluctant the Allies may be to undertake further operations against Germany, they are nevertheless in a position to do so should the need arise. Germany, on the other hand, is in no position to j resist them. There is still a considerI able Allied, army on the Rhine, and I the occupation of Essen and Frankfurt would, if necessary, be a prelude to a further advance, which would hardly encounter serious opposition. The terms of the armistice left Germany impotent. Her chauvinists may dream of avenging their humiliation, her politicians may endeavour by shifts and subterfuges to escape their obligations, ' vt they must know in their hearts that without the artillery, aircraft, rolling stock and war material which they were compelled to surrender they are helpless. -They cannot even renew the submarine warfare. The Allies, however, can bring pressure to bear

on recalcitrant Germany not only by military action, but by the reimposition of the blockade, the mere possibility of which should be enough to bring the malcontents to their senses. The Allies, and Britain in particular have shown a desire to conciliate Germany, but there is no reason to suppose that they are or unable to take a stronger line. Mr Bonar Law has explicitly state that the Allies in no mind to lose the fruits of victory; that they have the power to enforce the terms, and will not hesitate to use it. His assurance - suggests that yet another German bluff has failed.