Evening star., 1920-05-23
ECONOMICPERILSREIGN
AS STATESMEN DELAY
Germany Will Escape Requirement Of
Versailles Treaty if Conditions Con-
tinue Long, 1t Is Asserted.

the way of reparationS under present
conditions: the amount which she
may pay if the Versailles treaty IS
revamped SO that German economic
and industrial activities are permit
ted to resume at full swing win
, one revision of the Versailles terms.
the French declare. the Germans VIII
ask others. and once the process is
started there will be no end to the
demands. making the treaty put
shadow Of its former self. France
begins to realize. however. that Ger
many must be rehabilitated. and Is
keenly backing any scheme that will
guarantee payment of German
amount, SO France may yet surrender
to the idea of treaty revision in so
far as necessary to insure payments.
That France has conceded that the
indemnities shall be placed at a
definite figure is a sign of advance.
inasmuch as the French have op-
posed this from the beginning. evil
IDENTIFY wishing to exact every
farthing during the march of years
before the reparations and other al
lied commissions ordinarily will have
completed their task under the Ver-
sailles terms.
Premfers Realize Danger.
often has been stated by Premier
Nitti and Premier Lloyd George-the
TeutonS must be met with a spirit
of fairness in financial and economic
readjuStment, else tottering Europe
will utterly collapse. for the remain
the great central regions lying pros
trate under the burden of war recon-
struction and without the necessary
sinews to start the wheels of indus
try to moving rapidly.
Germany greatly resents the idea
ho CHI 4
marks in indemnities. stating the ma
tion will be paralyzed. There are no
indications that the allies will go far
from this figure in assessing the
sum total of damages. even the mini
mum figure, but the allied premiers
must be given concrete assistance II
she ever pays even this amount.
In the meantime the German peo-
pie are said to be devising means
of escaping the punishment of war
wherever possible. 1t is declared
that the social democratic govern
ment will not treat with the allies
at Spa unless they are given full
and fair hearing upon which some
reasonable estimate can be placed.
that unless the indemnity amounts
are fixed Germany may be expected
to try to prolong procrastination and
indecision. and take advantage OF
allied indeciSion. until the Whole
financial and economic situation in
Europe has become so chaotic as to
deter, if not preclude. collection of
a greater portion of the reparations
Help Must Extend Far.
Although the alliedGerman situa-
tion in regard to finances and eco
nomics is the leading issue OF the
moment in Europe. the allies also
realize that the system of financial
stabilization must go much further.
in view of the chaotic conditions in
Russia. Not a nation in Europe.
barring war neutrals, but that is
not skirting upon financial oblivion.
The whole financial system of the
continent must be stabilized, and
within the immediate future. if
Europe is to emerge from the bur-
dens the holocaust Of war heaped
upon her.
Barring possibly England, no coun-
try on the continent is able to go 1t
alone at the present juncture. In
teral1ied help is essential. The neces-
ers becomes increasingly apparent.
With threatening clouds it is to be
expected that these countries will
strive to frame some plan involving
more than what Americans may term
a fair share of United States interest.
But when the momentous Spa de-
cisions are announced it is expected
that they will plainly reveal the fact
that the United States ofhcially has
no intention of underwriting a war
debt brought on by Europe's own
jealousies and hatreds. Europe must
more and more go it alone.