V

REPARATION

hour. The grossest spectacle was provided by SirEric Geddes in the Guildhall at Cambridge . Anearlier speech in which, in a moment of injudiciouscandour, he had cast doubts on the possibility of ex-tracting from Germany the whole cost of the war hadbeen the object of serious suspicion, and he had there-fore a reputation to regain. " We will get out of herall you can squeeze out of a lemon and a bit more," thepenitent shouted, " I will squeeze her until you canhear the pips squeak " ; his policy was to take everybit of property belonging to Germans in neutral andAllied countries, and all her gold and silver and herjewels, and the contents of her picture-galleries andlibraries, to sell the proceeds for the Allies ' benefit." I would strip Germany, " he cried, " as she hasstripped Belgium ."

By December 11 the Prime Minister had capitu-lated. His Final Manifesto of Six Points issued onthat day to the electorate furnishes a melancholy com-parison with his programme of three weeks earlier.I quote it in full:

" 1. Trial of the Kaiser.

2. Punishment of those responsible for atrocities.

3. Fullest Indemnities from Germany .

4. Britain for the British , socially and industrially.

5. Behabilitation of those broken in the war.

6. A happier country for all."

Here is food for the cynic. To this concoction ofgreed and sentiment, prejudice and deception, three