The Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 21, 1919. PEACE TERMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 April 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 21, 1919. PEACE TERMS.

The latest forecast of the terms of peace to be imposed on the enemy appears to be more satisfactory than its predecessors. The later stages of the Conference, since the Big Four practically took possession of the loose ends and pieced them together, besides settling some of the acute outstanding questions, have brought the deliberations perceptibly near the end. The two outstanding features of the recent decisions are that France is satisfied, and that the matter of indemnities has assumed a more satisfactory aspect. It is advisable, however, to bear in mind that these two controversial questions may yet prove stumbling blocks to a final settlement, both on the part of the American delegaes and Germany. France has fought vigorously and persistently : for the Saar coalfields, and for the occupation of the Rhineland. The coalfields, before the war, yielded about ten million tons a year, and employed some fifty thousand men. President "Wilson has strongly opposed annexation as being contrary to the terms set forth in his fourteen points, and if any reliance is to be placed on the unofficial cable messages—which state that he has threatened to return to America and take no further part in effecting a peace settlement—a crisis is inevitable; but the reports may be exaggerated. At least, it is to be hoped that after coming so near to finality better counsels will prevail. At the same time the news from Germany is disquieting, in that it indicates a growing movement to refuse to sign any terms that were not indicated in President "Wilson's fourteen points. Moreover, | the demand for the restoration of [ the German colonies is again in evidence, and though we need not altaeh much importance thereto it is one of several points that may create a barrier to the signing of peace. Apparently the Germans are not to be allowed to discuss any of the terms except those relating to finance, and much depends on whether the Saar Valley coalfields come within that designation. "When President Wilson stated that America would not. tolerate any bargaining he closed the door on any peace conference with Germany, so there should be no alternative on Germany's part tut to accept the Allied terms. She has no right to arbitrate regarding her future, for criminals are not permitted to discuss with the judge the terms of their sentences. It was stated by Moltke that: "Wars are inhuman, but eternal peace is a dream, and not even a boastful dream." That may have been true in Moltke's day, with Germany all-powerful, but'a defeated and crippled Germany has entirely changed this doctrine. Peace is no longer a dream, but a vital necessity. No one should realise this more than President "Wilson, so that instead of acting like a spoiled child it is expected 1 of him to play the part of a great | statesman. As to the indemnities, , they can be so arranged as not to press too severely on the enemy. ! It is only just that the Germans 'should feel the weight of their : crimes, and the measure may well 'be left to the Conference to ad

just. The only otlier grit in the machinery is Japan, and she is taking a firm stand on the | vexed question of racial equality, while there still remains the trouble between her remains the tnuble between her and China. The full text of the terms will be awaited with great interest, and it is to be hoped that all difficulties will be overcome before these term i ; are submitted to Germany, as any difference of opinion among the leading representatives at the Peace Conference will certainly tend to strengthen German opposition, and that should be avoided at all costs.

PRACTICAL SYMPATHY WITH . FRANCE. ; France has been saved from the gvip of the Germans, but at a cost that is heartrending to dwell upon. These remorseless invaders appear to have done their worst in devastating French soil. The frightful havoc played by shells will take months —if not years—of hard labor before the soil can be brought into cultivation; farm buildings have been shattered into splinters, horßes and cattle killed, maimed or carried off—in one department alone 50,000 horses and 200,000 cattle being seized and carried off by the enemy. So completely in many cases were the landmarks destroyed that boundaries of holdings cannot be determined, and it has become necessary for the State to intervene by repossessing the devastated areas and either reimbursing the former owners lor reconstituting their holdings. Under ! such circumstances it can readily be unI derstood there is a danger of a prolonged famine unless help is forthcoming. It is therefore pleasing to note that the Royal Agricultural Society of England has started a movement for supplying aid not only to the people in the ruined areas of France, but also to the equally unfortunate people of Belgium, Servia and other invaded territories, by supplying seeds, live stock and other farming requisites as promptly as possible after evacuation by the enemy. There would seem to be a special claim on America and the British Empire for the exercise of practical sympathy in the form of suitable assistance to rehabilitate the areas devastated by the Germans, who will assuredly be called upon to pay 'or the reparation of the damage they jiave caused. At the same time it is obvious that something more than money is needed. It has been proposed that America should supply agricultural implements and machinery, and that the British Empire should contribute live stock and seeds, not of the ordinary kind but of the best that can be procured so as to improve French agriculture. Nor does the help stop there. There is to be made an effort to educate the primitive farmers and peasants in methods that will be productive of more abundant crops, and a great advance made in both quantity and quality. The establishment of model farms will do much to stimulate the producers in aiming at perfection. By these means two great objects will be achieved—distress will be relieved and the producers will be encouraged to forget the horrors and hardships of the war by devoting their energies to intensive cultivation and the production of the best crops and live stock, thus ensuring top market prices. They will deserve the help of friendly hands, and France itself will the sooner be able to efface the traces of war and become once more a prosperous and happy nation by the practical sympathy of her Allies. The recuperative power of the people was exemplified after the Fnmco-Prusßian war, but now they need aid, and with it they may be relied upon to emerge from tie furnace of affliction heartened for the work of the future.