Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-19
BRITISH VIEWS CHANGING
ON GERMAN INDEMNITY
Now That Elections Arc Over, There
So Is Not So Much Talk OF
sA Heavy Demands.
APPROVE THE WILSON VIEW
In Event People Arc 10 Pay Damages
~ to Various Powers, Leaders Bc-
lieyo II Matter OF Business to Ask
Fair Sum.

LONDON. March ls.-Now that the
elections arc over and members of the
British Parliament feel themselves safe
in their seats. il is natural that moro
moderate views in regard to an In
demnmity from Germany arc f1ndinS
expression. AS stated in previous
articles ,under this ;itle) great deal
fof the stridcnt demand for enormous
sums TO be cNacted from the van
: quished comes under the heading OF
"ciection crtes"---and many OF the
promises made by candtdaioS to me
gated TO the list Of scraps Of paper.
IT, Thus the Wilson poiicy-ohtsin
fair indemnity, but remember that Ger
many must live if She is TO pay it's
gaining converts daily. and VAL assur-
eddy bc tho basis OF the financial sec
Etions OF the peace treaty.
There is OF course, no need for char
lily and no necessity for undue cousid-
Grafton, but justice must 20 hand in
hand with common sense, and common
sense demands critical examination
OF conditions in Germany, so that the
peace terms may bc practical and may
be able to DC carried out
CLAIM GERMANS CAN
NOT PAY LARGE sun
Wha, is the position in Germany?
Professional economists of the Prussian
many cannot pay any large indemnity
and that it is TO the Allies interest to
do everything to restore Germany
-helmer, writing in the Berlin Tsge-
blatt. takes this line and arrives at the
conclusion that the utmost in msney
S9S@s addns would be
IF you want revenge. strike US dead;
but II YOU want an indemnity. put us
in postion-or, at least. do not make
TO pay YOU what part of the result is
stipulated by the compromise.
Discussions in both camps.aliicd
proceeded hitherto on the assun ption
sthat the new Germany will be the
same as the old Germany. Nothing
tain this attitude, which is moreover
mot the view Of the present govern
ment' which appear 70 be certain Of
success. Herr August Muller the Sec
,retary of State. in charge of economic
reconstruction. made this clear in
statement 10 the press recently when
as poor IS after the Thirty Years
There, is no real administration."
continued Herr Muller, and there are
no sources from which economic ac-
main fact is that Germany is not
RAW MATERIALS ARE
= IMPORTED by GERMANS
Under the old economic conditions
Germany imported raw materials and
labor. and was making money because
the alliance between the German heavy
Industry and German agriculture en-
ahled Germany to dump her manu-
factured goods at lower prices abroad
than the prices in the home market
Now Germany has lost ner world mar
ket and Muller sees that she cannot
recore. it under the old conditions
Muler's main points as regards the
Changed conditions--sumnrar ized in the
London Times-a.o as follows:
- The entente countries. and es-
n nd a-n
both struck deadly blows at German
competition as such. and after sweep
pE away great deal of red tape have
reconstructed their Industrial methods
on the most modern basis
80. SUCH German monopoiies az Ger
many had are being menaced or even
destroyed. Germany is losing the
potash IN Aisace- Lorraine, and has lost
hands Of three Germans firms. practic-
ally en- braced the whole world
: 70. The -inglo-Sa1on monopolics have
The tremendous advantage OF resting
Materials. whereas the German mono
poles were really based on treaties
labo !ioUsly acquired
The leading entente countries will
be able moro or less to dictate 10
Germany the prices OF raw materials.
70. America and other countries will
nov tend 70 eTpoT: manufactured
goods Instead OF raw materials-no
cotton, Hut textile goods, and not iron.
but machinery.
20 Germany VIII have 10 reckon
With a d.lineraIe enemy VIII TO eX-
Guide GERMANY -aS far SIS possible from
the world rnarKet"
CANNOT MAINTAIN TIE
PRESENT WAGE SCHEDULE
Then there is the enormous weigh:
ofaGtrnlanyS wa! debt. and the rise In
wages. lately out Of all nroportlon
TO-. the rise in prices. Muller says. in