Paris Peace Conf. 862.01/8
Mr. E. L. Dresel to President Wilson
My Dear Mr. President: May I venture to say one word in regard to the present German Government? Statements are constantly being made both in the press and outside to the effect that the existing government is merely a cloak for German militarism, that its members are arch-hypocrites, and that it deserves no more consideration than if it were in form imperialistic.
I cannot help thinking that these charges have no basis in fact and that they are highly prejudicial. No doubt the present government has many faults. It has been vacillating, opportunistic, at times arbitrary, and at times yielding. No doubt some of its members are not to be trusted. On the other hand, it is clearly democratic in form and in sentiment, and stands unquestionably for a republican form of government. Of its prominent members, Ebert was formerly a saddler, Scheidemann a printer, and Noske a carpenter. Ebert in especial gives the impression of entire directness and reliability, and his honesty is not doubted even by his enemies. It is altogether incredible that these men and many others that could be named are harboring ideas of military revenge, and the failure to insist in the German counter-reply on an army of more than one hundred thousand men is in itself indicative of a non-militaristic attitude, as is the proposal of the Germans to reduce their navy to a greater extent than is demanded by the Allied and Associated Governments.
As far as permanency goes, the very fact that the present ministry has been able to maintain itself, and even to strengthen its position, in the face of bitter opposition from all sides, is significant. A government which has been able to keep above water for seven months, in the convulsions through which Germany has passed, is not a negligible quantity, and surely shows as great elements of stability as a government which has continued for seven years in quiet times.
[Page 123]Should peace not be concluded with the present government, no other combination is in sight which can afford the slightest prospects of stability and sincere effort to work out peace terms. A cabinet of pacifists, rejecting any military measures to keep order, would shortly find itself in an untenable position. An Independent Socialist government, directing all its energies to taking up relations with the proletariat of other countries, would give free reign to the forces of anarchy. A military dictatorship of a reactionary nature would plunge Germany into civil war and endless bloodshed.
A letter received from Mr. C. B. Dyar, in charge of German press summaries at Berlin, dated June 3, 1919, states that in his opinion admission to the League of Nations would induce the German Government to sign, on the ground that the League of Nations would eventually modify such stipulations as would in time appear impossible to fulfil.
If the present government does not sign, a state of chaos and anarchy seems sure to follow. Cannot these consequences be avoided by giving the present German Government credit for what it has accomplished in the face of tremendous odds? By admitting Germany to the League of Nations without further delay, the parties of order and true democracy in Germany would at once be immensely strengthened, and it is not evident what if any danger would be incurred. In the present critical situation, can we not afford to take the German people at their word, and give them an opportunity to work out their destiny on lines which will be of benefit to the whole world?
I remain [etc.]