Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1920-03-26

either before or after the next cleo
tlon, n II ratified at such time we
would become a part of the league.
If this is not done the nation can
apply for membership in the league
just as any nation not a party to the
Versailles treaty may do and be ac-
cepted by the nations that are now
members.
Although Germany has occupied an
eminence conspicuous in the center of
the stage of world events during the
week and considerable light has arisen
from the c%onf1agratiOn raging within
her borders, much mystery rules a. to
the true state of affairs. Dark areas
exist which the spotlights of anxious
international interest and the tele-
I scopes of publicity cannot penetrate.
One thing certain is that the revolu-
ton instigated by Kapp, Luettwitz and
others with Kapp as self-appointed die
tator. has beer o%verthrown after five
days of hectic, febrile existence. The
active agent in bringing about this
speedy demise was a general strike of
wOrkmen ~centered in Berlin.
Whether the offspring of militaristic
designs, an effort to administer oxy-
gen to the gasping hopes of royalty, a
cunning Vaccination of b~olshevism, or
a deeply laid plot involving all parties
to muddy the waters of international
affairs and so defeat the terms of the
peace treaty as affecting Germany, is
not yet evident and may not be clear
for a long time. At any rate, the rev.
olution appears to have been a feeble
child. When the railroad workers quit,
and also those of the public utilities
including gas, water and electricity
the life-giving and d%istributive facili-
ties ceased. A lustier infant could
have lasted longer, but eventually
would have succumbed.
Has the Ebert government been mere
c%amouf1age? Ebert seems to have
known what was impending and at the
first sound of alarm deserted Berlin
after calling upon the p~roletariat to
support him by the strike. Earlier adj
vices indicated that Noske, his minis"
ter of defense, the man who has re-
Gently been proclaiming his acceptance
of the principles of the treaty and his
determination to help work them out,
had an understanding with the revolu-
tionaries. Time alone will demonstrate
the truth or falsity Of this indication.
With the Russian, Turkish and eastern
situations what they are, added to the
complications of the Adriatic situation
and the internal affairs of France and
England, it would seem to be a fairly
opportune time for Germany to stage
a muddling and distracting demonstra-
ton. There are elements aplenty In
Germany committed TO such intentions.
That which now seems likely is that
the various groups could not work to-
gether tremendously. Ludendorff was
in Moscow intriguing with Lenine and
Trotsky. a case indeed of politics MAX
ing strange bedfellows. AT home there
was a movement, if Ebert and his fol
lowers could be rendered suflclently
complaisant, to set up HindenDurg as
g candidate for president. .Notwith-
standing that Ludendorff, the embodl-
ment of r~eactionism, was flirting with
tho nersoniffcation of advanced radi-
icalism. and H~indenburg's supporters
were ~enGeavoring to make friends with
the socialistic adherents of Ebert, a re-
dictionary undercurrent was prevalent
throughout all the plotting. If the
revolution went off half cooked, as
ceems fairly evident, it was due to hu-
man nature and the impOssibility of
combining antagonistic elements n
soothing individual ambitions. Through
ont the whole affair there has been de-
colt subterfuge and recrimination, a
heritage from the teachings of kultur
nroving that German leaders cannot
he honest with each other and can
SCARCELY face their own visages In a
looking glass.
Ont of the whole mess has come the
renewed menace of bolshev1sm. har-
nessmaker Ebert is the n inquire III
| Germany who carries any 1ndlcatlons
of Influence and strength on the size
of law and order. He ordereu Tue
strike and 1t remains to be seen wnetn-
err or not he can control it. just no"
II looks as though he might have ere
ated a F~rankenstein destined to crush
him and throw his nation-perhaps n
whole of Europe-into chaos. Soviets
have been proclaimed in certain places
in Germany. 1t is true that these man
ifestations are confined largely to Sax
onv and other industrial centers where
radicalism has been strongest. Epert
has confidence in his military
and in the sober inclinations OF the
people; thoroughly sick OF war,
anxious to heal internal roubles ana
get back to work. The optimistic an