The Allies by remaining united and speaking firmly have at
last persuaded Germany that they are in earnest about the fulfilment of the Peace Treaty. Bavaria last month was stoutly professing that she could not and would not disarm. But she, like Byron's heroine, " whispering ' I will ne'er consent,' consented." It was announced on Monday that the large army which Bavaria calls a " Citizen Force " would disarm " voluntarily " before the end of this month. The new German Ministry is apparently making a, serious attempt to pay the sums due for reparation and has survived a joint attack of the Monarchists and Communists in the Reichstag. Germany has admitted before the Reparation Commission that her estimate of the value of shipping delivered up under the Peace Treaty was grossly exaggerated, as the Allies had always con- tended. If Germany is at last convinced that honesty is the best policy, and that treaties must be kept, the international situation will assume a new and far more hopeful aspect.
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