Evening journal., 1919-12-09
Uncle Harry Talks About
PreSent-Day Conditions in Germany

Sometimes / almost forget that there
IS such a country as Germany" said
Joe. SO many other things have been
happening here in our own country
lately, and In Italy. and Russia. that
! lose sight OF Germany. Won't you
tell us something WHAT'S going on in
Germany now, Uncle Harry, and what
the people are doing?"
That's a good suggestion. joe re-
piled Uncle Harry. "and l understand
Just what you mean when you say YOU
almost forget about Germany. For
many m0nlhs-for more than four
years, In fact, our eyes were riveted.
so 10 speak. on the news from Ger
many Nine-tenths OF the news every
day was about Germany. and every
body wanted 10 know what the Ger
man armies and submarines were do
ng"
Then came the German Revolution
nd the signing Of the armlstlce," said
Helen.
Yes and shortly after that the
ace Conference began" replied Uncle
ry. And ever since then there has
u more news from all parts of the
I'll than it was possible for any one
son to keep track Of A good deal
DE news. such as the dispatches
9m the Peace Conference and the dis
3tches from Washington about the
discussion Congress was having over
The Peace Treaty and the League OF
Nations, has been indirectly connected
with Germany and the war. But facts
about the German people and what is
happening in The German nation have
kind OF fallen into the background"
That's just what I wish you would
tell us about" said Joe THAT was
what I meant
"Wen, The most reliable reports
brought back by Englishment and Amer
leans who have visited Germany re-
Gently, and the news dispatches received
from American and English correspond /
cnts who are In Germany, generally
agree that the new German republic, f.
although it Is making progress, is /
moving forward very slowly.
Il should think the German people /
would be particularly anxious to settle |
ah their old troubles. and get started !
on the new path % better times and |
ss@ establishment OF q genuine demo-
attic nation, after all the trouble the
:. aiser and his militarists got them
Nto," said Jimmy.
Il think that Is what the wisest Ger
mans want to do" said Uncle Harry.
"and believe that most OF the German
people feel that way, too. But running
the German nation today is not the
easiest JOB in the world by any means.
The conservative Socialists seem TO be
in control OF the Government. and are
trying to make .headway with their
plans. But on one hand they have 10
contend with the supporters OF the old
Empire. who would like 10 restore the
Monarchy and the old Prussian Ideas
and customs. and on the other hand
they are confronted by thousands OF
hungry people and the radical Social
lists who were followers of Karl Lieb-
necht the Spartacus leader who was
killed in the second German RevOlu-
tion and who, II is known, favor the
establishment Of a Soviet form OF
Government like the Russian Socialist
The delay over the writing and the
signing Of the Treaty Of Peace has de-
aged the opening Of trade relations be-
tween Germany and the rest or q
World. Until the trade relations are
sAblished Germany cannot import
ile materials she needs to rebuild. re-
pair and operate her industries and
the food supplies needed TO feed the
German people. a
Germany was decisively defeated in /
the Great War and Is by no means a 4
military menace TO the rest OF the /
world thanks TO the heroic lighting ]
and sacrifices Of the Allies, and the /
timely and powerful assistance rendered /
by our own American army and navy.
Blu. the German nation still has an in
iernal problem on It's hands that is a
long way from settled, ond the suffer-
ING that The German people are under
song now ana the hard work that Is
ahead Of them for many years 10