New Britain herald., 1919-05-23

has never produced but has always i'm ported phosphates of which she stands in need. Nor is there anything in the terms of peace which will prevent or hinder the importation of phosphates into Germany in tho f,'- ture. Other countries, which do not produce phOsphates, are also com pelled to import them in common with many other products from the outside; and the only difference in the two situations will arise from the relative degree of wealth or l1n- prOverishment in the countries con- cern.
 Coal Supply Adequate
 "The German note makes special complaint of the deprivation of coal and asserts that nearly one-thrd Of tho production of the existing roal mines will be lost. But it Omlts 10 notice that one-fourth of the pre~war consumption of German coal was m the territories which it is now pro posed to transfer. Further, it fails to take into account the production Of Ignite, S0,000,000 tons of which were produced annually in Germany be- fore the war and none of which is derived from the transferred territory.
 Neither is any reference made to the fact that the output of coal in tho non-tr transferred districts was rapidly increasing before the war and that there is no reason to douht that under proper management there will be continuing increase in the future.
 Recalls Acts of Devastation.
 But should not the coal situation JyiH standpoint? It cannot be forgotten that among the most wanton acts per petrated by the German armies dur ing the war was the almost complete destruction by her of coal supplies in northern France. An entire industry was Obliterated with a calculation and a saVagery which it will take many years to repair The result has been grave and prolonged shortage of coal in western Europe. There can be no reason in equity why the effect of this shortage should be borne exclus- iVely by the allied nations who were it's victims, or why Germany, who de- liberately made herself responsible for the deficiency should not to the full limit of her capacity make it good.
 Stress is also laid upon the hard ships alleged to be inflicted upon
 
 ing in future iron ores and zinc. It is not understood why Germany should be supposed to suffer from conditions to which other countries contentedly submit. It would appear to be a fun damental fallacy that the political control of country is essential in or der to procure a reasonable share of it's products. Such a proposal finds no foundation in economic law or his- tory
 The allied and associated powers cannot accept the speculative esti- mate presented to them in the Ger man note on the future conditions of German industry as a whole. This estimate appears to them to be char acterized and vitiated by palpable ex- aggera tions. No note is taken of the fact that the economic disaster pro- duced by the war is widespread and indeed, universal. Every country is called upon to suffer. There is no reason why Germany, which was re- sponsible for the war, should not suf- fer also.
 No Faith in Data.
 Similarly, as regards the popula- ton of the future, no reliance can be placed on the data which is con-
 
 one hand, it is sought to prove that emigration from Germany will be necessary but that few countries will receive the intending emigrants. On the other hand is sought~to show that there will be a flood of Germans re- turning to their native land and live under the conditions which have al ready been described intolera bIe It would be unWise to attach too much weight to either speculation.
 Calls Statement Rash.
 Finally, the German note rashly asserts that the peace conditions will logically bring about the destruction Gloss in originaD of several millions of persons in Germany in addition to those who have perished in the war or who are alleged to have lost their lives in consequence of the blockade. Against the war losses of Germany might very fairly be placed the far greater losses which her initiative and conduct of the war have inflicted upon the Allied countries and which have left an incffaceable mark upon the manhood of Europe. On the other l hand, the figures and the losses al legged to have been caused by the blockade are purely Hypothetical. The German estimate of future losses could be accepted only if the premises upon which it is presumed to rest are ac- ceptcd also.
 No Fear of Future. But they are entirely fallacious. There is not the slightest reason to believe that a population is destined to be permanently disabled because it will be called upon in future to trade across it's frontiers instead of producing what it requires from within. A country can both become and can continue to be great manu-