The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-12
THE CAPACITY TO PAY

IT IOYD GEORGE in his most recent speech demands the ~ trial of Wilhelm and his accompces, and the payment by Germany of the entire cost of the Great Britain has waged reaching substantially to forty billions of dollars France may have larger bill The United States has expend ed matter twenty bons not considering certain assets in the way of plants and improvements.
 British committee has investigated the status of German industry and economic power and reports that Germany can pay.
 Whether or not Germany pay vast indemnity will depend upon internal conditions in Germany unified peace fu Germany under stable government pay and in no great years If industry properly managed Ger many in revolution without stable governments and wi dis organized industry could pay uness indeed payment should take the form of seizure by the Allies of the very lands and plants of Germany for title and operation by the Allies
 What would be the economic consequences of such in demnity, assuming that Germany becomes stabilized and pays it.
 Payment must seizure of physical properties in Ger many and their operation for Allied benefit must be taken In products Payment could not be in gold because Germany has not the gold all Europe together and gold would be well nigh worthless taken in such vast quantity for the payment of the debt.
 Allies attempt administer German properties very novel situations would arise the consequences of which not be orsen The entrance of German commodities in vast quantities would necessarily compcae the production Allied country. How these German commodities taken the indemnity 10 be handled? To what extent will they in erfere with domestic production? How may they be employed to add to the material well being peoples without diminishing the quantity of employment at home?
 Under this arrangement production in the countries of the Central Powers would probably take sociaized pect Government control and supervision would to be well nigh absolute. The organization either would not meet the strain upon it, would If the latter might expect to find at the end of period of ten twenty very strong industrial states with capacity for pro- ducton.
 Only by the most careful saesmanship would the victor ious powers manage keep their internal organization their capacity for production at the highest level inflow of vast wealth might have the effect of undermining efficiency unless the governments of the Allies very conscious of the conditions and possibilities.
 However the production of hundred billion dollars wortI of commodities is not insuperbae task for OOOO0 people Germans Austrlans and Turks. Fifty million people 1t in little longer me and take good of themselves bu the production would have to be unified public consciously conducted for the purposes in view.
 About the capacity of the former Kaiser and his accompce there Is no doubt They have lives which be taken Tn reign of international law distinguished from nternationa custom, will begin when Wilhelm is executed with those wh chiefly aided and abeed him.
 Of the difficulties involved Lloyd George is aware Tn Poin B Of his speech he When you to the exacting of you must exact in such way that not do more barr to the country that receives than the country paving