Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-11-10
WANTS GERMANS. TO REBUILD
SECTIONS THEY DEVASTATED
Mr.. Dawson Reviews Plans Suggested and
Decries Idea of Forgiiviing and Forget
ting Germany's Grimes and Outrages.

BY CHARLES STEWART DAWSON.
Chairman, American Defense Society.
Various suggestions have been made
in relation to the manner of carry
ing out a rehabilitation of the dew
astated regions, Belgian, French and
other, and almost all with the cheer
full responsibility in relation to CIV
ing away the rights Of property OF
others which marks those who have
an instinct toward Humanitarian
ISM Some of these amicable persons
wish US to keep the American armies
in France and Belgium and employ
them in rebuilding and re-creating-
Others suggest that we should cancel
our war loans.
One suggestion. somewhat more vi
cious and aimed more directly against
the interests of this country and OF
the allies. favors the distribution of
raw materials under the auspices OF
"a proper league of nations, shutting
out no one. not even an enemy who
has seen the light and will live de-
Gently" (of course. this last one is an
attempt at currying favor in those
quarters in which the belief Is
thought to prevail that a wild tribe
tice by promising to be so).
Let Germans Do Rebuilding.
The practical suggestion which &C.
ours to the plain mind is that in this
world the person who does the dam
age is the one who is expec ted to
restore it. There is no objection to a
certain number of armed American
troops remaining in Belgium-if the
Belgians need them-and I do not
think they do-to stand guard over
disarmed Germans who, at a living
wage. shall rebuild that which they
themselves destroyed.
Here IS a use Tor German man power
for five years to come. And a proper
use. And a just use. And an educa-
tional example-both for Germans and
for the bolsheviki who pose as "hu-
manitarians." German Workmen,
German materials, German craftsmen.
must rebuild Belgium, northern
France. Serbia, Poland and the other
districts that Germans have destroyed.
Some one must do it and they are the
ones who must" Germany must re-
place and restore the overthrow
walls and the stolen machinery of the
factories. Germany must rebuild the
PEASANTS home. German manpower
must plant with forests the fields no
longer useful for crops through the
Apturning of the under soil. And she
must do all this at mere living wages
Sole Objection to Plan
The sole objection which can be
raised is that it would prevent Ger
many from growing rich while Bel
GUM. Poland, Serbia and northern
France starved. Who dares advocate
that? No one. l fancy. but the gentle
men who desire to give raw materials
to Germany that she may again at
tempt to enSlave the world. Germany
can well afford, moreover, to do these
things. She has been able to attain
great commercial power while TAX
three years army duty from each of
her citizens as he attained Il suitable
age.
Let her now cease to train her youth
to arms and let her donate to repent
ance three years of the life of each of
those oncoming classes who, ordina-
rily, would be termed her military
classes. Let them hereafter. until res
toration has been made, be known as
Germany's restoration classes. Let 1t
DO well understood that there shall
be no commercial competition from
Germany until her competitors whom
she has in part destroyed are restored
to an equality in the field of Compel
tive endeavor. Wherein in this does
any hardship lie? None that is discov-
cradle to the plain mind Germany. of
course. wishes to use her young men
to rebuild, to expand, to amplify Ger
many.