The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-08
ALLIES ATTITUDE
 TOWARD GERMANY
By HOLLAND

| HSACO III tIC OAttCU tSldbcC ~1S e1tt va husiastic advocate of peace, who, never theless, after the European war began supported every measure taken in France tC resist German invasion and to de- feat the German army, wrote to his friends in the United States some two years ago exponding his views as to what should be the relation of the allies So Germany after the war was ended. The baron is a life member of the French senate. He is esteemed as worthy to rank with the most intellectual of the trenchmen of today His lecture tour in the United States a year before the European war began was attended in the aggregate by many thousands, and he did much to promote the feeling in fa- vor of the international league of peace. Today the dispatches from Europe l make it clear that the view which was I held by the baron two years ago, ana almost exclusively by him, is now enter tained by the allied nations. For it is reported that Lloyd George advocated at l the recent London conference of the al- 1 lied premiers such arrangement as will enable Germany to float a very large in fernational loan, chiefly in the neutral l European countries, but also in South America and if possible in the United Statts
 1 This proposition does not differ in prin- ciples alLnough it does in some details, 1 from the view taken by Baron DeEstour- nelles two years ago He regarded it as i essential, not only to Germanys indus trial recovery, but to international trade | that all reasonable aid be. extended after the war to Germany so that she might | build up her industries, begin again 70 trade with other nations, and in that way secure income which would enable | her to pay her debts. to meet whatever requirements for reparatien were exacted and furthermore to receive and pay for | imports especially of raw materials as we'll as railroad and industrial supplies and equipment from other nations. 1 It is the belief of some of those who | have studied present day conditions aRd 1 who are of influence in our own financial | world, that if there be wise and reason able precautions and adequate security | would be the part of wisdom for the United States to participate in such : loan to Germany as Lloyd George has l now proposed, if only the German gov ernment backs any loan with negotiable securities which are sure to have intrin- sic value powers.
 l A proposition of this kind is spoken l of here as sufficient to prove the some what desSerate conditions which prevail | in Germany. For, unless Germany car recover and become industrially strons there is danger of collapse. The reaction l upon tue QtUcT ildLiOIlS WAiCn 1CiHiebii I collapse would cause would entail condi- tions which are spoken of as sure to be serious and possibly dangerous.
 l Of course the proposition as it is now reported to have been entertained by the premiers and the financial experts of the allied countries does but set forth any 1 details Here after there will be decision probably by the German government it. | self. which will fix the amount of the l D,,t tl,af tha bo large one is not to be questioned. Last l fall John H. Patterson, one of Americas | industrial leaders, visited Germany fol | the purpose of personal Investigation His great industrial plant at Dayton Ohio, had before the European war be. 1 gan, maintained very large trade rela- tions with Germany as well as with other parts of Europe Mir. Patterson was anx- ious to learn~-whether it would be pos sible speedily to resume these relations I He spent some weeks in Germany ant
 had every opportunity to make thorough investigation.
 Almost the first thing Mr. Patterson said after he returned to the United Estates was that it was vital that the
 German people should know exactl,
 what their obligations are to be ans what they are to be called vpon t' i pay. For as long as this is an un answered question just so long Germany Twill be in doubt about her ability to mee
 her obligations. Let the amount of thu
 reparation be fixed definitely. Let
 be reasonable and not excessive, and il | Mr<Patterson opinion the German gov
 ernment and the German people will I'm lmediately bare their backs to the bur den confident that they will be stron
 enough to support it.
 HIS VIEW CONFIRMED
 l MT. Patterson's opinion is now con firmed according to the dispatches re iceived this morning from London. Tn
 belief was expressed at the conferenc of the prime ministers that the Germal government can organize it's finance land industries more efficiently If tn German people could know exactly wha their obligations are and what they wi be called upon to pay. These are almos the precise words which MT. Patterso
 used when he spoke of his experience l
 Germany.
 He was confident that, given the OF
 portunity, receiving ample supplies
 raw material and necessary industri; equipment, as well as supplies for tn reconstruction of her railroads, the Gel
 mans would show themselves to be witf Tout superiors in the intensity Of their IT dustrial activities, their zeal Tor proous ltiveness and for that kind of efficjenc which leads to reduction in the cos of manufacture.
 WHAT THE ALLIES CAN DO
 It is recognized that the allied natiot
 would be unreasonable if they were Ilend money to Germany and at the san time take money from Germany in pa! ment of repartion obligations. But 1T allied nations can give powerful, a though indirect support to the plan The
 can let it be known tkat they are favor of substantial financial aid to Ge
 lmany. They can even let it be Know Ithat although the United States as m
 one of the allies until the war was near
 ended, nevertheless. France, Engian
 IItaly and Germany would be gratified
 lthere were participation ny citizens of U
 Limited States in the contemplated loa
 There does appear to be some questit
 due to the doubt whether the Germs
 Igovernment can place adequate securiti
 behind the proposed loan Tn fact 1t
 a question which seems to have caus'
 France to be somewhat reluctant in gi { ing support to Lloyd Ges rge's proposl
 Ition.
 Apparently Lloyd George and perhal
 one or two of the other prime ministe
 received informal, perhaps confidenti'
 communications from some of the neutr
 x~fa tx,at