Evening star., 1919-11-16
BY F. b. SISSON,
Vice President Guaranty Trust Company.

i
In considering the European situa-
tion we have usually confined our in.
terest to the principal allied coun-
tries. England France. Belgium and
Italy. We have given but scant atten-
ton to the central powers. That has
been q perfectly natural result. .
wholly logical one. But. a year after
the cessation Of hostilities-if not
peace, thanks to the United States
Senate-we are beginning to realize.
as are the British. French. Belgians
and Italians. that the European situa-
, ton cannot right itself without the
former enemy nations righttng them
| selves. In other words. an economic
league of nations is already in: ex-
istence and the momDers. comprising
all civilized peoples, are awaking 70
the fact that they are all dependent
upon each other and that not one OF
1.-THE war-torn beiligerents can truly re-
habilitate itself unless all the others
also are permitted and assisted to re-
habilitate themselves.
France. for instance. sorely needs
she she appreciates fully that Germany
cannot pay that indemnity unless
Germany is allowed to work and Is
provided with the means Tor work.
DO not adyesaSte ~ ION rnss sslns ssrainst Ies
civilization. do not suggest. or I'M
ply that we should mitigate our feel
| ing against 8ermany: Butt purely ~
q matter Of common sense ! oenAve
that we must face the economic facts
| in the case, and be guided by them.
Need, Not Fear Ambitions.
There have been fears entertained tn
various quarters that Germany. Il per-
mitted to resume industry ana COM
| merce on an adequate scale. would soon
! be in a position to threaten allied ~.
! premacy and world peace In trade, II not
again in war. A careful study OF .ns
facts, however. does not support such
| fears, and 1 do not believe: that Ger
many will ever again be able seriously
to ASPIRE to world domination either IN
| trade or war. But she must De auoWeo
| to take her rightful place In interna.
tional and nsr wefare
the world. That. indeed. Is ner ents ~
legitimate claim to the place. but II ID
or should be, sufficient one
| Let us look at the conditions whlcn
prevail in Germany ana .oan1 oeserine ~. t,,s ~
/ as the basis for forecasting her future
! Waste Of Human Capital.
First Of all, it has correctly been OBJ
served that Germany. more than any
other Of the belligerent powers. tough,
the war by using up her capital No.
only did she wantonly SacFlnce upon tns
altar Of insane ambition her materia
/ capital. but also that still more precious
ASSET. human capital. Not alone by the
loss Of 1900. 900 killed 10 the westaxe O
lGermany's human capital to be reck'
loned. The untold harvest of disease
which resulted directly or inairectS
l se,
impressive testimonial Of that colossa
wastage, which will require generations
to replace. -. p
/ The Food Problem.
Next in importance 10 unquestion'
iabiy Germany's food situation. In nor
NAL times the Germans produced onlS
about three-fifths OF the foooslums
~alen eyef' they aeSy weps e9sd forced to depend
tirely on their own harvestAs: s. r,ast unt
grain reserves OF the former narves.
were completely exhausteo: tnere wa
no possibility of getting fortner SUP
niles from Rumania: Austria couie
not help, and Hungary would NOT
Consignments from the Ukraine. ney,
er large, had ceased, and the neut1a
states were not able to assist' quo u
the allied embargo.
Every effort was MADE 70 incr reass
Ali arabic land was cultivated. but
the soil was impoverished through
lack of fertilizer. and there was
dearth of labor and horses. The re-
suit was that. while the harvest 'Was
possibly 10 per cent larger tnan ina,
of the previous year. the Quauty wal
very much inferior.
The lack of meats and rats. now
ever. is the worst feature of the, Ger.
man food problem. for the shorta9e 81
fodder necessitated the wholesale
slaughter Of cattle.
| Only Cheap on Paper.
i Since no one could exist on the ra'
tions allowed by the government dur
ing tho latter part Of the war. under
/ ground trading reached alarming pro.
portions. In practice the supposed
low prices in the country Tor tne
paper. In reality the nation was
drained by profiteers. Farmers un'
lawfully boarded their produce, 9
portion of which they secretly sold
At exorbitant prices. Quantities o.
food were smuggied: the numerous
and boarding were rarely enforced, ~
the officials secured their own sup.
plies from prodteers and often shared
In the graft. Thus, during the wal
the progressive total deterioration Of
the food supply went on. The pro-
Ionged undernourishmento Of the peo-
pie has greatly reduced their produce
tive eficiency, decreased their power
Of resistance ia, disease and lowered
their morals.
Today Germany urgently needs
foodstuffs for the. next four months
twelve months,
Shortage Of Leather.
Leather shoes were almost unob
ltainable by civilians: during tha las