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Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1925, Page 2

Gkii.uanv is adopting the date of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles as a day of mourning in order (the cable man iells ns) to remind the frivolous of the nation that that occasion was the worst mistake since the war. A\e hope the people of (formally will get the occasion in the right perspective. If they do they will consider what was the worst mistake Indore the war, which brought on them all the troubles jmd obloquy the nation suffers from now. Likewise if the Gormans had failed to sign the peace treaty they would have for the second time ill recent history gone back on their word. Having sought peace at the price demanded by the victors in Novcmlier, 1918. the Germans in honor bound could not- go hack on those aiiangoments. At that time the enemy were at their gates, and in a few days would havo been hovering over Berlin, with troops approaching. It was to escape i his final bout of the w ar. that the Germans sued for peace, and the nation should be at pains to honor a day which brought them relief from the horrors of war and the ending of a strain and a drain sapping the file Mood of the country. The greatest mistake Genmuiy made was not in signing peace to end the war, but in allowing their leaders to make the war at all ) ossiblc. and bring down on the nation such condign punishment, after supping deep ol the throes who caused the war itself. Germany seems to be studying post-war errors, without fixing the blame upon those who caused the war itsel. Germany also talks of a desire tor a revision of the lrentv itself, without making any effort appreciated by the Allies in at all keeping faith with their signatures attached to the lieaty. It Germany had made an honest endeavour in that direction to -atisfy ihc Allies the easing of the terms might come as a matter of course. But Germany may not Ik- trusted. That fact i- home in on the mind by the late election of Von 11 iiidenhurg to the Presidency. 'lhat act dhl not show much humiliation of spirit, ami was in it,sell an act of defiance to the Allies making the Franco-!',rilish security pact a virtual necessity. Germany is being as badly led or advised as before the war. to which effect may be attributed the sm ion- plight of the country, and the crowding of mistake upon mistake upon tine another in these post-war days, when peace is ihe mo-l essential mailer for the country.