tral Europe, and contains stipulations that will profoundly affect
the future of the nations composing the Teutonic Alliance.

WHY TERMS ARE SO SEVERE

Before considering the terms themselves, let us make a general
observation. The terms are undoubtedly severe, perhaps the most drastic
ever imposed on a conquered people. We do well to reflect that many
wrongs in the past committed by Germany had to be righted. Not to
mention her colonial empire Germany loses nearly one-third of her
territory in Europe. The part restored to France is simply a return of
territory wrongly taken from France in 1871. The larger part of her lost
territory goes to Poland from whom it was taken two hundred years ago in
the utterly unjust partition in the days of Frederick the Great. But
what the treaty seeks to safeguard is the safety of the world. Germany's
record since the days of Bismark is that of one continuous grasping
after territory at the expense of surrounding nations. It was absolutely
necessary to impose such terms as would render her powerless in this
matter. It will be noticed that the terms imposed spell the end of
German militarism. That menace to the peace and safety of the world is
removed.

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

An attempt is made in this treaty to constitute a League of Nations that
will hence forth put an end to war. The curious student is reminded of
these difficulties that confronted the Constitutional Convention of 1787
when it met to form our National Constitution. In that case, however,
the separate nations that united to form the United States were one in
blood and history and had been drawn together by common dangers. Those
who would form a League of Nations seek to draw into one compact, of
course with very loose restraining bonds, nations utterly adverse in
blood and history. The mere effort to form such a league is a wonderful
step in advance. It remains for the future to determine the success of
the movement.

THE COVENANT OF THE LEAGUE

The covenant of the League of Nations constitutes Section 1 of the peace
treaty, which places upon the league many specific, in addition to its
general duties. It may question Germany at any time for a violation of
the neutralized zone east of the Rhine as a threat against the world's
peace. It will appoint three of the five members of the Saar commission,
oversee its regime, and carry out the plebiscite. It will appoint the
high commissioner of Danzig, guarantee th