Of these provisions during reconstruction we can only say that
all depends upon how they are worked. If they are carried out in- telligently and reasonably—as we trust and believe they will be—their effect should be entirely good. It will, however, be necessary to use great care in their application, for an unduly harsh, or purely mechanical, exercise of the powers might do great harm to the Allies. To use a homely metaphor, we want to smack the heads of the Germans, but not under conditions which will take the skin off our own hands. The operative part of the Agreement ends with a third category which deals with permanent measures after the war for mutual assistance and collaboration among the Allies. The Allies agree to take steps necessary to render them- selves independent of the enemy countries as regards raw material and manufactured articles essential to the normal development of their economic activities. These measures, it it provided, are to deal not merely with their sources of supply, but also with their financial, commercial, and maritime organization.
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