Evening star., 1919-01-31
Relief From Tax Burden.

THAT relieves us of a huge annual
burden of debt. If we are to pay the
fines placed against us by the allies we
must have access to the worlds mar
kets. We must work to make money.
We cannot make money taking in each
others Washing"
''Well?
''Then suppose that the allies continue
even a Inodified militarisn--if they d-
vert annually some portion of their
man-audmoney strength into armies
and navies? Don't you see that they
voluntarily accept handicap of which
we are relieved? How long will it take
Germany to resume a strong CONNER
cial position? Already we are planning
to America nize our factories. while you
are verging toward Imperialism
There is the financial scheme for the
future, as set forth by many revolu-
tionary leaders and followers in Ger
many. They base the plea for forgive
ness to which I have alluded on two
rather remarkable grounds. 1t aids one
to get slant at the peculiar German
psychology if it is understood that these
pleas are made in all seriousness On
at least one occasion they were urged by
speakers at a dinner at which the
American correspondents were guests
Blame General Staff.
The excesses of the first few
months of the war were the fault of
the general staff. 1t believed the
policy of 'frightfuiness' would shorten
the war. That theory has been proved
fallacious. and if another war were
to come we would not do what we
did this time"
The argument is then, that muir
der, having proved Improbable, should
be forgiven. If it had been profitable
forgiveness would not be needed. 1t
strikes me there are two Indian heads
on that penny. The second defense is
quite as remarkable:
I'VE were blood-mad in the first
few months of the war. The whole
people was somewhat blood mad"
There is this much to be said for
the revolutionists. They do not deny
the ''excesses," as they somewhat
mildly term them, though they do
vigorously resent certain charges,
such as that of the crucified sergeant
at Ypres and the cutting off of the
hands of children and the breasts of
women. The "eXcesses" to which they
refer are the punitive burning of vii
lagos and the punitive" murder of
civilian hostages, and the organized
loot to which the German army gave
itself over.
Second Groups Attitude.
There is little to be said of the
second group to which I have re-
ferred. though l suspect it includes
the numerical majority of the Ger
man nation. 1t will be ruled by the
revolutionists or the reactionaries, no
matter which faction gains the ulti-
mate ascendency. This group has al
ways taken its ideas by pattern and
has obeyed blindly. What it wants
chiefly is three square meals a day
and a sound roof, and as low taxes
as possible.
But the reactionary group is ex-
oal inf n hn
gressed an inch past the moral point
reached on July IS, 1914. 1t would
still like to deal diplomatic cards
from the bottom of the deck 1t
thinks that relations between nations
should be cooked up in back rooms
with the doors locked and the win
dows curtained. Its members talk
of the next war
Though that will not be for an
other fifty years. Europe cannot af-
ford one before then--"
And plan a national militia sys-
tenn" as Won Groener frankly told
me. The peace table is to it table
on which d game of beggar-my-
neighbor is to be played and though
they admit that the German hand is
a weak one. they still hope to gain
some advantage by the adroit manip-
uIation of cards.
Old Regimes Hold Over.
The mental attitude of this fac
ton, in which is included practically
all of the bureaucratS of the old re-
gime-and these bureaucrats not only
still retain their positions because
they know the workings of the old
machine, but are the men with whom
the allies are treating where contact
is necessary-nay be illustrated by
one of our experiences:
You should have talk with
Count Bernstorff," we were told al
most as soon as we reached Berlin
That motif was played upon un-
ceasingly. Every reactionary we met
advised us to see Count Bernstorff.
| Finally the direct request was made
| that we see him. He was represent
ed as not only the only diplomat re-
| naming of the old establishment. but
as the man who would head the Ger
man delegation at the peace table.
| We fatty refused.
Refused to See Bernstorff.
Not only will we not see Count
Bernstorff,' we said, because in the
Iyujfed States he is regarded as an