The Daily News. SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1919. THE PRINCIPLES OF SETTLEMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1919. THE PRINCIPLES OF SETTLEMENT.

When, prior to the armistice, Germany was playing for time and for a draw, President Wilson swept away ail doubt aDd dallying by his drastic and uncompromising Note to Germany, which, by all the ironies of fate, can only be compared with the ultimatum sent by the Central Powers to Serbia at tlie beginning of the world's "blood bath I '—to use the phrase which German and Magyar Chauvinists were then howling. The President set forth, with probing skill and subtle suggestion five essentials to a cessation of hostilities which restored and strengthened the working solidarity of the Allies, and meant that the Allies would be satisfied with nothing less than absolute victory and absolute security. It is worthy of note that the great war commenced and ended with an ultimatum, the first at Germany's instigation and the latter at her expense. What followed is too fresh in the minds of all to need recapitulation. Suffice it to say that the armistice was signed and the Peace Conference is now meeting at Paris, where the German High Command bad intended to meet to impose such terms on their foes as won'.d have made them slaves for all tim-: The main issues to be decided by the Pisco Conference may be plac-

Ed under sis heads, namely: Safej ty, reparation (material and mor a!-), territorial readjustment, <>r I mar changing, the future of (4 *rman Government, League of Nations, and precautions neeess! 1 rv to establish the permanence of universal peace. The armistice 1 e.rms provided i, Mtffideiit guarantee f'-v

CcuTerence a;; to what further pro-

vision slio.'d l«? made to entire that it will be impossible for Germany to make preparations fee another world war, or become a menasc to her m-ijriiSiors. Stubborn as her dynastic and militarists traditions have been—.subordinating everything else in her whole national life to thoughts of war and i>» preparation for war —the result of the late struggle should tear up tiic.se 1 radii ions by the roots, and e have only to study the present internal strife there in order to

anive at a reasonable assumption that the old order lias gone and with it the insatiable love of military pride which brought the country to hoi" knees. There need be no pity for Germany, for sooner or later she is bound to become a powerful and prosperous nation. Even now those in authority are dallying over the fulfilment of the armistice terms in order to foster industrial penetration of the world's markets. The conditions imposed by the armistice were mild by comparison with what Germany deserved and what armed invasion would have inflicted. As to reparation, even if the Peace Conference desired—which it does not—to shirk the demand for reparation and punitive justice, the devastated condition of Belgium and France would act as a compelling force. TV hat Germany cannot pay in cash she can pay in kind —especially in machinery and material. It is, however, satisfactory to note that the Allies are considering steps to secure possession of Germany's gold reserves, and this policy is one that is to be commended. Probably the hardest task of the Conference will be that connected with changing the map. No patchwork will suf-

\ee. There must be searching ■justice if there is to be settled peace. The motives for future war must be. as far as possible, eliminated. The rotten structures, the decaying, obsolete, untenable systems which were so long a menace in the old world and have now proved a curse immeasurable to all mankind, must be swept away before a new and bettor order e,i!i be built where they stood. IT■>!-

land's ."jurisdiction over the Scheldt estuary must go: the great ■Togo-Slav State, with a mtgiiiiieent Adriatic seaboard must come into being; every unquestionably Greek area that it is practicable to bring under the Hellenic flag must be added to that kingdom; Bulgaria must be dealt with; Eonmania not only fully restored, but enlarged; Denmark must have the purely Danish part of north Sehleswig; Poland afforded 1 Sie opportunity of again becoming a p'rent nation stretching from the BnlHe to the Carpathians,- the roxtora*ion of Bohemia with Slovakia made possible; the fate of Trrkiy .'el-

lied; the Straits and ! 11e Black Sea permanently opened and neutralised. the races heretofore dominated by Austria-Hungary made free and self governing. The Peace Congress, which must begin with the question of present security must end with the question of future security, for when the armies oi the Allies and America are disbanded they can never be assembled again in our time, hence the imperative necessity for dealing thoroughly and effectively with the question of absolute security. It is on these main principles that the future peace of the world depends.