Evening star., 1920-01-25

are wholly untitled to guide
and direct the destinies of
millions of people-these are the fac
tors that today are forcing to the very
brink of ruin practically the whole of
central Europe.
These are marked influences in a
generally deplorable situation that to-
ering peace as a firmly established
thing; that may undo the works of the
Paris conference within the next
eight weeks and make uncertain the
effectiveness of any effort looking to
stable reorganization of the mid sec
tion Of the old continent
Generally speaking. the peoples
throughout the whole of central Eu-
rope today are hungering as they
have not hungered in centuries. FL
nances are SO disorganiZed as to make
doubly difficult already trying at
tempts to even meagerly exist, and
governments show little ability in set
ting about sterilization processes.
Disease is stalking throughout the
whole of the region from the North
sea to Constantinop1e and even great
er plaques are threatened among the
underfed. Industries today are para
lyzed as at no time in the past hun
dred years: workmen are disinclined
to labor. and, il so, are impeded by
the lack of organized supply of raw
materials which the industries of all
countries require. Transport lines
and settled exchange methods. are so
disturbed as to give gravest alarm in
financial circles, where the danger of
continued business inertia are well
tor
tematic undermining and deprecia ton
of currency. accompanied by conse-
quent small earning and buying
power, is growing.
People More Hopeless.
And. while the people are suffering
from hunger, are fighting off the
winters chill. they are becoming more
and more hopeless, particularly in
those countries which today stand as
bulwarks against the spread of sys-
tematic disorganiZation from the east
There has been a degree of dumb
patience among the people with trials
and tribulations brought on by the
war, but as the days go by. this pa
tlence has ever grown less sturdy un-
I'll today. as the central sections of
europe enter upon that period of win
ter where hardships will be even
greater than at this moment the
spirit of revolt against any and all
conditions which place them in such
position is growing
Governments which have been es-
tablished in practically all central
european countries have proven
themselves unable to cope with try
ing conditions in the fashion hoped
Tor by the people. Allied peace stip-
ulatlonS have increased the load Ger
many, Austria. Hungary and Bulgaria
must carry, and though they be just
and mt punishment for the crimes OF
the past five years. nevertheless they
are making the pathways of the pres.
ent esta ablished governments anything
but easy. as each must carry internal
burdens occasioned by the actual con-
duct of war which are staggering in
their proportions.
In view of conditions and the possi-
bility that during the months of
February and March much of the
treaty of peace in Paris may be un-
done by upheavals caused by the rig
orous sufferings of the peoples
through central Europe. existing gov
ernments are on the qui vive and the
allies in their deliberations in Paris
are seriously considering the evil re-
suits that may accrue from the dis
contented state of the midcontinent
mind.
German Situation Unstable.
Epitonaized, the situation in Ger
many may be said to be anything but
stable. counter revolutions being ex-
pected at any moment. Austria is suf-
fering tortures of the damned through
hldeous privatlons Hungary is on the
verge of another great upheaval
which will further strengthen the
power of bolshevists or reseat the
monarchists. while in Bulgaria the
reds are admittedly gaining power
with the days. principally because
the peoples have lost faith in present
methods of dealing with their noxious
the verge of great uprising. inspired
by bolShevikS who are Seizing upon
the present state of discomfort
Though Czechoslovakia is making
valiant efforts to stem the tide. doubts
are voiced in more optimistic circles
about as she is with discontened
states can survive if conditions grow
much worse. Polands pathway is be-
set with pitfalls, she being practi-
cally surrounded by antagonistic
states and interests and only clever
ernment and outside assistance from
the allies will insure perpetuation of
the Polish state in its present form.
With existing central European gov
ernments overthrown and the fires of
revolution fed by the discomfort of
spirit of revolt fnight naturally be
expected to spread into Italy and
France Even England might find it
difficult to resist the radicals. who are
preaching communist. doctrines. With
this in view it is not m the least
surprising to see Lloyd George and
even the cold -bIooded Clemenceau talk
Of 1essening the economic and finan-
cial demands upon Germany that some
of the evils. existent and potential.
may, in some wise, be mitigated
Even though it is the desire that
Germany pay to the uttermost farth-
ing for the evils which she brought
on in the world it also is recognized
that Germany today is the chief bull
wark against further disorganization
if not utter chaos through the whole
of Europe. AS consequence every
move in Germany today is watched
with greatest eagerneSs, but not With
out some misgivings.
Germany today is divided into three
political groups. each watching the
step of the other with the eyes OF
coyetous zealots. The coalitionlsts.
chiefly majority socialists, are IN the
saddle at the moment. The independ-
emf socialists, communists and Spar
ticists are advocating the communal
tion of all Germany. and to this spirit
the present government mas con-
ceded somewhat in the further de-
mocratization of Industries by the
1yorkmen's council bill, which places
in the hands of the workers wide
powers in the operation OF Germany
sources of wealth, her creative enter
prses.
Monarchists Are Ready.
The group which may be expected
TO cause greatest trouble. but one
which. owing to the temperament and
old ideals of the German people. may
hiring about even more stable forms
than are existing at present, and be
relied upon to hold Germany stead
fast against chaotic conditions. is
Germans Even should Germany es-