[TO THE EDITOR OP THE EPECTATOP-1
was much interested to read your article on terms of peace. It is very important that conditions which would be acceptable to the Allies should be widely published, as it is doubtful if any reliance can be placed on the Government to formulate terms which will prevent a repetition of the German attempt to conquer the world. I have more faith in the sternness of the French and Russians, who have seen the horrors of war on their own soil. Many English families have suffered the loss of their bravest sons, others have been overwhelmed by financial ruin ; many have been only inconvenienced—e.g., take my own case the result has been to reduce an unearned income of £1,600 to £1,049. No comparison can be drawn between the annoyance of partial loss of income and the terrible sufferings of those who have seen their towns ravaged and their belongings subjected to the nameless barbarities of the German invaders. The terms you enumerate are excellent as far as they go ; is it an oversight that you have omitted to insist on the surrender of a German vessel for every Allied vessel sunk during the war ? Many think the Suez Canal should be closed to German ships and no access given to Allied coaling-stations. I see with regret that you state Germany will be too financially exhausted for a general indemnity. The sum of £4,000,000,000 has been named as being a just indemnity. Whilst no one supposed that the Central Powers could make such a payment in cash, apart from other sources, the coal and iron mines, the potash deposits, and the national railways would go a long way to produce enough to pay interest and instalments of a sinking fund for this amount. Austria is full of undeveloped wealth in the form of rare metals. The presence of an army of occupation has always induced conquered nations to produce the indemnity demanded. I rely on France and Russia to insist on an indemnity. Whilst you cheerfully and properly deprive the Turks of Constantinople, you disclaim any notion of laying hands on German provinces. Why this distinction between the villain and his dupe ? What could be a more absolute guarantee of never again than the annexation of the provinces containing the coal and iron mines by France and Russia 1—I am, Sir, he., M. D.
[Certainly let Germany pay us and the rest of the Allies ship for ship in respect of vessels sunk contrary to the rules of war. That is just. To annex German provinces and manufacture new Alsaces and Lorraine, would be a terrible mistake.—En. Spectator.]
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