The Daily News. MONDAY, JUNE 23, 1919. PEACE ASSURED.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, JUNE 23, 1919. PEACE ASSURED.

The announcement that the majority of the German National Assembly is ready to sign peace brings the acceptance of the terms appreciably nearer, especially as the Scheidemaxm Government has resigned, thereby paving the way to a settlement of the long-drawn-out negotiations, although a New York cable states that the German press denies that the Assembly decided to sign the treaty. It appears, however, from other sources that peace is assured, and there are weighty reasons why this should be so. The Allies have plainly stated that they have said the last word, and at six o'clock on the 16th of the present month the revised treaty was handed to the Germans, who were given five days in which to accept or take the consequences. The time limit expired on Saturday last, so that it is quite probable the German Assembly, knowing full well that the Allies meant business, bowed to the inevitable and decided in the affirmative. That the Scheidemann Government should resign under the circumstances was to be expected, but even that will not be allowed to affect the Allies' determination to treat the armistice as at an end if the treaty is not signed within the time limit. Their preparations for advancing into Germany are complete. Marshal Foch, on June 15, had left Paris on a tour of the army front, his headquarters being at Luxemburg, whence, if necessary, the orders to advance will be given. Anglo-French troops have been concentrated in readiness, and artillery moved across the Rhine, so that all the needful steps have been taken to enforce the terms, a course that would entail a heavy price for obstinacy. The Allies have exercised a patience and con- ! sideration that jnay well cause wonder, and there seems a fair prospect of once more proving the truth of the adage that "everything comes to those who know how to wait." Assuming that the action of the German National Assembly has been correctly reported by the cable message, and that the treaty is signed—as it should be by the time this issue is published— the most important part of the business still lies ahead —namely, the carrying-out of the provisions both in the letter and spirit of the treaty, which is intended to be a solemn, binding contract, and not a "mere scrap of paper." It may be considered premature to rejoice over the signing of peace, but it is quite permissible to welcome the news that the representatives tfif the German nation have accepted the terms. We can, without any loss of dignity, ignore the charge that the Allies have " forsaken a peace of justice to which they pledged themselves in the armistice negotiations, and, instead, have concluded a peace of might." Ravings of the nature set forth in the New York cable of June 16 are inherent to a section of the German leaders and their press, and may be regarded with the contempt they deserve. They have become so familiar that they fail ,even to raise the slightest resentment, but are rightly treated as the yelping of a whipped cur. To the verdict of historians of the future may safely be left the justice or o&emise of the-terms im-

posed by the Allies. The only concern at present is as to the observance of the terms, and on that point it behoves the Allies to be adamant. They cannot be accused of undue haste in imposing their terms on the vanquished. The armistice was signed on November 11, and it is now nearly the end of June before the alternative of signing air rejecting has to be faced. The German Government fought desperately for a peace by negotiation to prevent the humiliation of a forced acceptance of terms dictated by conquerors to the vanquished, but their failure in this respect was foredoomed by reason of the enormity of the crimes on Germany's part, apd the imperative need for safeguarding the world's peace. It is a great relief to feel that the end is in sight. The price involved in securing a stable peace has been so gigantic that its advent should be an occasion for fervent gratitude, and it can truly be said that no nation has more reason to be thankful for the destruction of militarism than Germany. The Allies had it in their power to grind the Germans to powder, but they withheld their hand in a humane spirit that should have evoked something akin to gratitude instead of persistent reviling. However, the Allies have accomplished what they set out to do, and the consummation of their task is now visible in the acceptance of the terms designed to free the nations from the thraldom of militarism and allow them to work out their destinies in peace.