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Hokitika Guardian, 15 January 1920, Page 2

The formal signing of the jjeijcn protocol was carried through with an unusual degree of secrecy. Only the parties immediately concerned in the momentous occasion were present. Not even the United iStates Ambassador' was there to watch proceedings, and pressmen seem to have been specially excluded. International relations are now being resumed as on a peace basis, and Germany is to be encouraged to work out her own national salyajbion. Th© German reports indicate strong feelings against the peace terms which are alleged to bo severe, but the Allies need have no qualms on that account, for had the position been reversed, it is well known Germany’s terms to her foes would have been most exacting and certainly humiliating. Germany will bo encouraged to rehn.bitate herself ill order to be in a position to help repay tlie cost of the war jiut upon the world. Her press and some of her people still adopt a bellicose tone, but that need not be a disturbing factor at this stage, as the Allies have the power to control the position. The

next important move will be tne trial of the guilty for the horrors of the war. There were many diabolical excesses practiced by the Germans, and , the offenders being well known are to | be made to account for their crmies. j They will he given a trial, so will not jbe condemned in haste. Chief interest j will centre of course, round the trial of (. the Kaiser, and he will be tried by a special international court. This will be one of the closing acts of the great war tragedy from a public point of view and will be watched with th« keenest interest.

There is a suggestion of irony in the position, which call's upon President Wilson to convene the inaugural session of the League of Nations, for his Parliament has refused to ratify the treaty which created the League. Allowing that Mr Wilson was sincere in entering the war, though some of his countrymen question it, he did play a part in moulding the treaty and in incorporating the League covenant. But it is not unlikely that some of his political opponents in the United States are not unmindful of the delay which took part before America plung-

ed into the’ fray, and this knowledge might be some explanation of the treaty hold-up. It has been realised that peace could be completed diplomatically without the aid of the United i States, and the Senate aware of this had held up the ratification. Probably with peace accomplished, the Senate mil go on with its reservations in its own way, and the United States will come into peace, as it went into war, at a laggard’s pace. As the late Mr Roosevelt pointed out to his counl try men when his country was still neutral “neutrality between right and wrong is immoral,” and so the United States can hardly afford to he neutral on the League of Nations question. The League covenant is a kind of glorified Monroe doctrine, and as ‘such follows the natural leanings of America towards maintaining the status quo. Till the 'States accepts the treaty and the covenant, it may not participate in the Lefigue operations, so that Mr Wilson’s convocation, will hare a somewhat humorous aspect. (Should Mr Lloyd George proceed to America, to - attend the meeting doubtless his advent will have a marked effect on American opinion and action.