To Join?

Professor Veit Valentin, German Democrat, summed up thus the arguments for Germany entering the League of Nations: "The old question of whether Germany should enter the League has now become an acutely material one. The new England more plainly, more emphatically and more energetically calls on us to do so. Shall we heed the call? The answer must naturally be based on sober consideration of German, and only German, interests."

After discussing the pros and cons, he concluded:

"We have in Germany, as everywhere, friends and foes of the League principle. Its principal friends are mostly in the ranks of the pacifists and Socialists. Not that pacifism and Socialism are unanimous for the League of Nations of Versailles. Many from this camp deem it a far too imperfect materialization of their ideals. Its principal foes are mostly partizans and champions of the old policy of force, who are just now raising their heads with a good deal of haughtiness among us. . .

"The strongest argument for Germany joining the League unconditionally, as quickly as possible, is France's surly opposition to the mere idea."