The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-03-17
Helping Germany to Her Feet.

"A few months ago it was proposed
that Germany should be economically
boycotted as a means of increasing Its
military punishment. Now the supreme
council is considering economic assis-
lance to Germany"
Thus the New York Times Und'
Dem.) describes the great change in
the attitude Of the allies toward Gers
many since the Versailles treaty was
drawn up. I'm word, adds the Pitts
burgh Leader prog Rep, the states
men who framed the terms of peace at
Versailles confess they must undo all
the work and perform it all over" and
the Leader goes on 10 say
They must now do what they should
have done a year ago. Then they re-
fused to listen to sane suggestions. The
program they have mapped out now is
precisely what they were told at Ver-
sailles they should have prepared year
ago. They could not see it then-per-
haps for the advancement of personal
political programs they did not want to
see anything they did not want to see.
What is this new program of the al
lies concerning Germany? The official
statement of the allied supreme council
says:
1T is most desirable in the interests
of the allied countries, no less than of
Germany, that at the earliest possible
moment the total of repayments to be
made by Germany under the treaty Of
Versailles should be fixed, and that in
accordance with the terms of the treaty
. she Germany should be en-
abled to obtain essential foodstuffs and
raw materials, and, If necessary in the
opinion of the reparations commission,
should be allowed to raise abroad a
loan TO meet her immediate needs Of
such amount and with such priority as
the reparations commission may deem
essential"
striking Illustration of just what
a loan to Germany means is given by
the Philadelphia Record Ind Dem.),
which tells of man fined in court who
pleaded shat ''he had no money with
him, but he had money enough at home
il he only had the means of getting
there" The tender-hearted judge lent
him money to go home and get enough
money to pay his fine. Yet when
victors assessed the cost of the war
against Germany they had little thought
that they would have to set Germany
up in business before they could collect.
1T Is grim reversal of things from
what we thought they would be, and
should be-" remarks the Wheeling In
telligencer (Rep), but "the world needs
the products of German mines, mills
and factories. and 1t needs to help Gel
many now If Germany is ever going to
be able to repair some Of the damage
she has done in. the world"
But this policy docs not imply" de-
clares the Atlanta Journal (Dem) ANY
relaxing Of the will to keep Prussan-
ism impotent. 1t means, on the con-
trary, safeguarding reaction against
the danger of Prussianism's returning
as the tenfold devil of Bolshevism. +"
The Fresno Republican Gnd,l points
out also that the new plan is distinctly
in the interest of tie allies:
England and France. are literally
afraid to let Germany go bankrupt, just
as we ought to be afraid to let Eng
land and France go bankrupt. Whether
we love each other or hate each other,
we are all in the same boat, and we
can not afford to have any leaky spots
in anybody's compartment of 1t"