The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-04-18
Ebert and Scheidemann Talk Of How
Republic VIII be Managed
After Treaty is
Signed.
s NO SECRET DIPLOMACY
Do Not Expect Nation to be Bankrupt
If Industry Can be Made
More Pro.
ductive.
[By Frank J. Taylor, United Press
Staff COrreSpOndenf

! lby lam y. ldyioT, OHlteu TTeSS
Staff Correspondent
! BERLIN, March 8. (By mail --That
the policy of the new German republic
will be more compatible with the aims
OF the rest of the world is assured by
president Fritz Ebert and Minister
/! President Philip Scheidemann, Ger
many's two big men today, in inter
views given to the United Press.
There must be nothing to hinder
| close political and economic relations
| between the German republic and the
| United States of America, says Presi-
Dent Ebert. There has been no hatred
| between our two peoples. We believe
| that America is able to save Germany
by standing for democracy and justice
at the peace conference.
Tell the American people that Ger
many's faith in the league of nations
is faith in America"
President Ebert does not impress
one as being genius or even leader,
Tut rather as an honest and trust
worthy man, devoted to his duty. Per-
haps an honest man is needed more
than a genius now
Ebert says he cannot shoulder the
responsibility for his country if the
reace conditions are such as would
crush Germany. Should the condi-
| tons OF the entente go beyond what
/ Germany can bear the government
would be forced to put the RESPONSE
hility for the resulting consequences
upon the entente.
"It cannot be said today what atti-
! tude in detail the government would
| take at such awful change of events,
HIGH in the opinion of the govern
r1ent would seal the fate, not Of Ger
rnany alone, but of Europe. We hope
! in the interest of Europe that such
change may be avoided.
Germany will do everything to rem
! Ger all secret diplomacy impossible for
future. She presumes that the coming
! league of nations will make abolish
| ing secret diplomacy obligatory for all
members. Germany depends in this
also upon the strong will of the Amer
i lean people"
| Scheidemann considered as did
! Ebert, that internal problems are Ger
rlany's first and greatest source OF
apprehension. Scheidemann is the
man who more than any other holds
IGermany's destiny in his hands, and
| lis forceful way of undertaking his
Office has won him confidence and sup
port which he formerly did not have.
""The first step Of the government
| will be to reach endurable peace con-
| ditions and reconnect Germany to the
worlds markets" asid Sche1demann.
"Then all governmental measures will
HE directed to overcome bolshevism
and re-establish orderly economic and
| financial life, which depends on wheth-
er we will soon be able to provide
tread and butter for our people.
! "Only after feeding is solved can
the new cabinet undertake its work,
most important of which is rebuilding
| tie economic life and traffic on a solid
reciprocal basis by which everyone
gains. Rationing and obligatory maxi
mum prices for necessary foodstu1fs
will be kept UP for time. Import
will be restricted only SO far as the
financial situation renders 1t neces-
sary."
Scheidemann is an exponent Of the
iron fist to bring about improvements
when force is necessary, In contrast
to the policy of President Ebert, who
favors use Of persuasion first and force
only when every other means has fall
ed Ebert is an idealist.
Both men are in favor of socializa-
ton of industries as far as possible,
though according to Scheidmann, SOC
ialization should be applied only to
such economic circles which Ey their
development assume a private mon
opolistic character and thus become
! ripe for public administration. For the
beginning, mines and electrical indus
tries concern us. We don't think Of
specialization where productivity or in
itiative. would be decreased.
"There is not the least reason toI
think of a German state bankruptcy,