Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-01-11
CUTMANN IS OPTIMISTIC
BERLIN FlNANCIER DECLARES
GERMANS WILLING TO WORK
Says Country win Recover If People
Are Not DriNcn tn DolshcNIsm
by lIurshness.
ny kAnL. ii. Won wII.CAND.

by iIarshncss.
nY KARI II. Won NNIEGAND.
berlin. Jan. l0.-'I am no optiInist
IN any Ctopian sense. / know what is
before us, and am not closing my eyes
I" hard facts: but conditions in Ger
many ana the outlook for Germany
economically are perhaps more prom
isiuS than in France or IIngland-ycs,
even more SO than in your own conn
That was the statement made to me
today by General Director G%uttman,
largest banking institution in Ger
many. Guttman, since the retirement
OF Gwtnner from the Deutschc Bank.
many.
Clearing Way Debris.
Let me explain what I mean by
mat" he continued. .Germ1ny'S o'd
state structure is in ruins. The pres
ent conditions may continue for some
Time. but can hardly get much worse.
rs we are already at the bottom, II
away the debris and getting 10 work
again to build up Il new foundation.
Whatever We do. sooner or latcr.. is
81 reconstruction and upbuildinc. both
c~conomically and politically. Tho, de-
sire to work and be industrious. which
is so strong u part of the German
characters. is returning.
I'm France. according to our reports
through financial channels. there is Il
strong Discrimination to work. The
French people dc not vet realize their
rue situation, and nat thev cannot
popular unrest is only Just beginning.
and is certain to be Intensified when
,he peopls only @reaiize The real con
stroying what is old.
English TOO Discomfort.
According to the same reports. the
inclination TO work is not much
1T would seem that England is also
moving in the direction OF Il political
and eccnomic crisis. And if We may
cicrS in New York regarding the in
duStrial unrest. uncertainty, strikes
ana high cost Of living. the situation
In your country III that respect il
In brief. while tho three countries
! have named are engaged in tearing
ana labor in an effort 20 reach = new
readjustnent OF those forces. Ger
upbuiidlnG. I hope l make myself
clear"
This talk with Germanv's vandcrlip
was one OF the most interesting and
Of the numerous German leaders |
hav, met recently.
Takes Optimistic View.
I had asked him for his views of
and economically for the coming year.
and he ~prefaccd mis- statement With:
am no prophet and ! doubt If YOU
Will tind any German financ!sr who
has the courage to make predictions
in view OF existing conditions and the
uncertainty of the future. Predictions
are possible only when one has GER
tain suppositions or conditions as 4
basis OF promise"
What must those be- ! asked
That America agree to grant US
large credits. and that We nave no
Bolshevists."
Then. YOU consider the danger of
BoIshevism still great in Germany"
No.. | DO not. al least not from Ger
mans. That lies wholly in the hands
OF the allies. II they desire Bolshevism
in Germany We will cet it," said Gutt-
man. with emphasis. Their indiffer-
ence to conditions in Germany or their
direct oppressive acts against the Ger
and file of the German people have
enough OF Bolshcvism as they have
seen II in Russia. Budapest and
Munich. only desperation, born OF
despair, would drive them to IL. even
then | believe II would Toe only -
trans!tOry phase. The German people
want quiet and remuuerative work.
Expect More Radical Attempts.
Guttman declared il not at All i'm.
probable that February and March
might see renewed radical attempts
TO regain c%0ntro! through munger re-
y!%i,s or other forcih!e measures.
h" said. but il Is to be hoped that
such attempts viii be short-Iivcd and
fiDl!ILlS put tOHl II.
lie expressed the belief tina, the soil
OF Germany IS nov loss favorable to
the growth OF B"lsheviSm IMAM that
OF France. or even the United States.
War" hc added. has been u ire
mendous i~.vcl!er in Germany. What
war ANA unprecedented peace condi-
tons have fo!led 10 bring 10 a com
mon level. Erzhcrgcr. with his taxes.
Is bringing down. There arc no longer
any very rich or very poor ia Ger
many, and there arc no such contrasts
between extreme wealth ana extreme
poverty as in your American cities.
THAT, .! course. makes the ground
less favorable Tor tn. agitation or cx-
treme radicals Specialization or ma
tlpndl!Zalion can now take place in
Germany without any violent read
juSimcn's or conflicts. the same can,
hardly b." said Of America or France. \
Wn"re tn" government has not even
cared - a'lefnpt TO pass an income
tax measure
Productive Capacity Real Test.
~Touch!ns Hppn ~Gerlnany's national
wealth, asked whether il could stand
the drain Of the repatriation called for
by tn" Versailles treaty and the ire