Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-11-28
ALLIES SUSPICIOUS
OF HUN REFORMS
Chief Danger, However, Lies
in Fact Pan-German Taint
of Socialist Regime.
MAY BE RADICAL CHANGES
By JOHN F. BASS.

By JOHN F. BASS.
Cabiegram to The Evening Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright. 1918.
PARIS, France, November 28-The
political situation in Germany remains
obscure. NJ Benes, minister of foreign
affairs of the Czecho-Slovak state, said
to me the other day that the revolution
in Germany ought to be viewed with
extreme suspicion.
Some Of the Paris newspapers re-
gard the revolution as a camoufiage
by agreement between the former
kaiser. the different monarchs, Field
Marshal Won Hindenburg, the military
caste and the socialists to blind the
entente with simulated change in
the government. Some even declare
that the abdications are fictitious.
These views do not seem to be justi
fed by the facts, and their acceptance
is short-sighted as hiding the real
and more serious danger. Apparently
it is genuine revolution in Germany.
Socialists control the government and
constituent assemblies are being
called, which probably will establish
the republic on democratic basis.
Impregnated With Pan-Germanism
The danger lies in the fact tina. the
new socialist government apparently
is impregnated with pan-Germanism.
1t shows no revolt against the Ger
man monarchy which turned against
Germany the sympathy of the whole
world and caused her to be univer-
sally hated. The facts are that the
old bureaucracy of the foreign Office
and interior department still remains
in power. There is no indication in
the speeches of public officials or in the
newspapers of any intention to give up
Alsace and Lorraine. All this means that
the present socialist government is not
adverse to the foreign policy Of the
old government. 1t indicates that the
methods of the imperial government,
with it's espionage and mendatious
propaganda. has not changed materi-
ally.
Same Old Line of News.
The Wolff news agency is sending
out the Game old line Of news.
Within the last few days it has an
nounced to the world by wireless
that there is revolution in France,
and, moreover, that the socialists in
Germany, without making a clean
sweep of the old government, are
endeavoring to win over the support
of the socialists and labor parties in
France, Great Britain and Italy in
order to weaken the peace policy Of
those nations. Indications exist of
hope in Germany that serious po-
litical disturbances in France. Italy
and Great Britain may relieve them
from suffering for their wrongdoings
Violent and expansive force on the
part of Germany is almost instinc-
tive. It has not changed. since the
days of the "drang nacht Osten"
movement toward the east). when
it drove three wedges into Slav ter
ritory-one in the west and north of
Poland, absorbing east Prussia and
the penetration of Courland; the
second between Poland and Bohemia
with the Magyars to separate the
Bohemians from the Slavs to the
south.
Germany by peaceful penetration
has invaded eastern France, Italy,
Poland. Russia and all the countries
force found it's greatest expression
in war, but it has also been carried
on by war methods applied to trade.
The present chief interest of the
German socialist government seems
to be the consolidation of the Ger
man people, including those of Aus
tria BY this consolidation they
might hope with superior methods
to dominate Europe convulsed with
the spread of social revolution. AS
yet it is uncertain how much more
upheaval will be required b fore Ger
moral opprobrium that rests upon
her and adopts policy of live and
let live. DR.. So1f. the tool of the
old royalty. as secretary OF state for
foreign affairs. acts as mouthpiece
for Germany. and, considering his
diplomacy, his latest appeal to the
allies for relaxation in the terms
of the armistice might indicate a
hope of whipping the German indus
trials into shape before the allies
have time to rearrange disrupted
Europe would not he wholesome
neighbor to the new states of Poland.
Czecho-Slavis. Jugo-Slavis. Hungary
and subdivided Russia.
View of Allied Statesmen.
Prominent men in the allied gov
ernments do not feel that the pres
ent situation in Germany would JUS
tify their refusing to aid in prevent
ing SIaGVdtlOH ludt 4Hcy
do feel that the terms of peace
should be such as to prevent the
too rapid recovery Of an unrepentant
Germany lest she put her talons on
the young nations of eastern Europe
before they have gotten on their feet
and adjusted their common relations.
Radical changes may however, come
at any time, although NJ. Benes. per-
haps the best informed man on the
subject, declared to me that there
was no immediate danger Of bolshe-
vism in Germany. Still the present
revolution bears some resemblance
to that in Russia. There are also in
dications that the revolutionary gov
ernment is seeking concessions from
the allies as means of maintaining
themselves in power Some people
welcome delay in the peace congress
in order to let the situation in Ger
many clarity itself.
BAVARIA CUTSLOOSE