Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-11-18
Germany in Bad Financial
Way With War Debt Of
$35, 900, 900, 900
TO TAX GERMAN
TRADE TO LIMIT
Berlin Not Expected 20 Repudiate In
tcrnat Debt-<May Tax eondho'dsrs
Out. Of Their Holdings - German
Propa sanoists at Work in America
Seeking to Promote Sentiment Of
lsnieney.

Washington. Nov.N1s.-Study Of Ger
many's financial situation has been
undertaken by government agencies to
throw light on the ability Of the Ger
man nation to pay big sums in repara-
ton for devastation in occupied terri
tories.
Germanys war debt now is nearly
$35. 900. 900. 900, or more than two -fifths
Of the estimated national wealth.
.Altho there has been no official an-
nouncement or intimation Of the ag-
gregate amount the allies will expect
Germany to pay. 1t is certain to run
into billions Of dollars and necessarily
the terms Of payment must accord
with Germany's ability to pay.
Payment will depend on Germany's
ability to develop industry and trade
ar, to tax this for state purposes.
financial observers 'kere say some
claims for restoration and restitution
set forth by interests in few allied
nations are extravagant.
May Tax Creditors.
The victorious allies WIN not concern
themselves primarily with Germany s
rcdsmptionNor national dedbt, since this
r. lafKely Il intefnAA CQmpAratively
small amounts Of German war bonds
are owned outside of Germany, and
perhaps the largest sums are held by
citizens Of the United States, former
German subjects.
Officials here who have known in
ternal conditions in Germany in the
past do not believe the government will
repudiate the internal debt but that
taxes will be made. so heavy that citi-
zens will turn in their bonds in settle-
mcnt. In this way the debt will he
Cancelled without actual reputation.
proposandists at Work.
Government agents have evidences
that German propaganda machinery in
the United States is being put in 1drk-
ing order again to promote sentiment
Of leniency toward Germany in peace
terms. Consequently. department Of
justice officials today warned that the
public should remain watchful against
resumption Of organized propaganda
f.y interests formerly actively pro-Ger-
man and for the past year passive.
Concerted movement is apparent. Of
f1cials say, in utterances of many In
uiNANuoASs q lCW Obeo1hAatloAS AOAAhC
active in German interests. and some
newspapers. There is no organized
leadership. II Is believed, but local in-
terests have taken their cue from Ger
many.
The officials combating German
propaganda do not propose to suppress
free expression Of opinion but to fight
any concert OF proposandists who
would confound the spokesmen for the
nation In peace negotiations. Officials
say that in the reconstruction period
there r,ay be danger Of propaganda.
Troublemaker in Mexico.
Department OF Justice agencies have
ordered the interment' OF some Germans
es~ce the Armistice was signed.
Erkhardt the notorious German am
s'assnfior at Mexico City, again is re-
-~-tcd dr ing his utmost to make
,r-..:.::-.. hostile to the United States
a.s g able ta~have misleading articles
.s..t....'',,si,e,l in the semi Official Mexican
n-p~rs Recently he had published
l.',r"nut Mexico that the. German army
~ not been defeated and that the
f'r--'-,an navy still. was fighting the
allied navies