The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-12

Special Gable to THE NEW York HERALD
Copyright, 1920, by TIE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,1
Berlin, Dec. IL.
Poland could not replace Germany
IN the world OF manufacture and buy
ing, was the declaration of Chancellor
Konstantin Fehrenbach to THE NEW
YORK HERALD correspondent here while
discussing the forthcoming plebiscite
in Upper Silesia Germany without
Silesias natural resources, he added,
would not be able to redeem her
reconstruction.
THE world without German in
dustry would be like a clock withou,
the vital wheel" he continued.
He said he looked forward with quiet
confidence regarding the outcome ci
the plebiscite vote. II have faith Ia
the right we have established in Upper
Silesia through centuries of earnest
work" he went on to say. Goethe
said we must ourselves earn what we
inherit from our forefathers II we are
to possess il. I believe we Germans
earned the sacred right to possess
Upper Silesia now and always"
Chancellor Fehrenbach declined to
discuss how the plebiscite should be
held while negotiations regarding it
are still pending with the Entente
Powers.
Silesia German for Centuries.
This is Upper sllesla week." he said.
"and millions of Germans-old, young,
rich and poor-are generously con-
tributing TO the cause of Upper Silesia,
They~aFef giving enthusiastically and
with sacrifices This 10 me seems elo-
quent proof that the Germans are not
coldly calculating on the economic adj
vantages which would accrue through
Germany retaining Upper Siesia, but
that they are following the impulse OF
their hearts. Upper Silcsla and Ger
many became one by centuries Of mu-
tual toll"
German colon ization there. he recalled.
began more than zoo years ago when
the province was separated from Poland.
1T was a peaceful penetration" he
continued. mot with the sword but with
plough, trowel and anvil. In the most i'm
portant towns like Gleiwitz, Beuthen,
Oppeln and Ratibor. and even in the
villages. the houses still testify that they
were built by Frankish immigrants.
Breslau's German bishops were leaders
OF the colonization movement and the
Siesan monasteries were filled prnci-
pally with German monks Frederick
tho Greats father was a factor In Upper
Sileelan industry. He founded there iron
works and blast furnaces which were
counted az world models In those days.
Then, early In the nineteenth century, the
iron and coal industries expanded. and
the zinc industry not long afterward In
this era great corporations have been
formed which now represent billions Of
marks IN value TO German business and
are ineeparably n part OF it,
THAT these industries could Increase
in Importance from year TO year Is the
result OF the chemical and commercial:
skill OF the manufacturers. the diligence
OF the workers and state support.
Prosperity II Germany wins.
"a new expansion OF these industries
in the service OF peace and OF society IL
certain IL they remain German. Should
the district be lost by us 20 Poland IL
would itself be heavily penalized for Il
would lose the stream Of young engineers
from German technical colleges and its
supply OF German machinery and chem
icals. Germany. too. would lose buyers
OF these Sileslan and many other goods
and her own requirements OF coal. zinc
and iron.
Already Germany Is weakened by her
deliveries OF Ruhr basin coal to the
Entente. The loss OF her Silesan coal
would place her in gravest peril. The
reconstruction OF Germany would be
nullified and it would be impossible for
her TO carry the heavy responsibilities
imposed by the treaty OF Versailles.
let German industry be ruined and
the prosperity OF the world Will suffer
Germany has always been a large buyer
Of all kinds OF raw materials. and
through her technical experience and her
labor she has been able to supply the
world with great quantities OF finished
articles. II Is out OF the question that
Poland could take Germanys place in
these respects by gaining the natural
resources Of Upper Sfesia. Poland would
not even understand how to exploit them
successfully, not 20 speak of her ina
bility 90 use them as the basis for
great independent industry. IL the crav-
ing OF the world for wealth is 70 be sat
isfied 80 IS vital that the vote OF the
plebiscite should be for Germany. I
cannot conceive OF Germany without
Upper Silesia."