Evening star., 1921-04-07
Editorial Digest
Waning Fears of Red Germany,

waning FearS OF ked Germany.
The American press Is apparently
beginning to lose it's ability to "see
red" OF course. there are a number
of writer's who feel that Lenin and
his agents arc brewing revolt in every
country. but most commentators on
the recent uprisings in Germany at
tribute them to independent causes or
look upon them. in The words Of the
New York Post independently. as ef-
forts "in the nature of a forlorn hope"
A few writers agree with French
publicists who declare the riots to be
made in Berlin as part of bluff"
to fend off the bill-collectors. but most
newspapers refuse this explanation
and blame unrest and discontent due
to economic conditions and the threat
of further disruption by invasion.
- The Chicago News independently Is
optimistic. 1t believes that communist
riots in Germany are "foredoomed to
failure" The red peril is not what
it was year ago. Even radical lead
ers amenab.e to reason realize now
that the remedies for the Ills of hu-
manity will be found in work. peace
full commerce and justice tempered by
conciliation and tact"
The idea OF "a sweeping revolutionary
movement likely to gain control of Ger
many is put aside by the Charleston
News and Courier (democratic) as i'm
probable; nor is the present outbreak a
deliberately staged affair."" but rather
Temporary manifestation Of Germa n
desperation in the face Of Nemesis"
The Brooklyn Eagle independent dem
ocratic) can find nothing definite to
support the statement that "the Rus
sian communists. or at least the Mos
cow government. are seriously backing
the German reds: and the New York
World (democratic). granting the posi-
billy that the German government has
secretly connived' with the revolu
tionists as an excuse for deferring pay
ment of the indemnity. thinks 1t
equally possible that the new radical
explosions are a result of economic con-
advances as the cause
A number of writer's doubt that there
is food for bolshevism in Germany be-
cause. as the Mobile Register demo
believer in private ownership of prop
erty." and 'it is not likely that he will
be led astray by specious argument and
beguilement." The Butte Miner demo
cratic) also mentions "German's nat
ural antipathy to bolshevik vagaries. +"
is against bolshevism"; and the Pitts
burgh Sun (democratic) doubts that
the virus of anarchy has gone far
through the German veins" The Man
chester Union independent republican,
considers that there is obvious cause
enough for discomfort" in Germany to
account for the uprisings without seek
ing hidden springs" in either Berlin or
Moscow. The Johnstown Democrat
(democratic) lays the trouble to "re-
sentiment of the German people, which
will increase with the steady encroach-
ment of allied armies upon German
soil" Admitting the range Of Lenin's
propaganda in the past. the Buffalo Ex-
press independent republican, explains
that 'ft is true that the nervous excite
ment Of the war" put many people in
the frame of mind (which makes them
easy material for vicious conspirators to
work with" but adds that that condi-
ton of the peoples nerves is disappear
tory"
The Boston Transcript independent
republican, Is more willing to grant
that the German trouble Is at least
it remarks that sit will not perhaps
be easy to convince the allied gov
ernments that Germany today stands
in any real danger of the agents and
apostles of bolshevism." Part of the
responsibility lies with the Ebert
independently. but Lenin. the i'm
willing to give up fears of the red
menace Is the Cincinnati Enquirer
(democratic). which comedies tina.
neither the German "imperialists nor
bourgeoisie will provide recruits for
Lenin," but thinks the danger may
grow" for "bolshevist agents are
active"
While scouting the idea that the
"stolid. middle-class Germans" who
are in charge of affairs in Berlin
would favor communism. the Cleve-
land Plain Dealer independent demo-
cratic) cautions that for all this
there is need of a Gustave Noske or
another like him to get actively and
Immediately down to work" The
Bangor (Me.) Commercial Gnde-
pendept> calls attention to the fact
that "the reds have been gaining
steadily in Germany Of late" and adds
break was put forth as feeler by
red leaders in the desire to see how
the people would react" The Rich
mond Item Independently. while it
takes 1t for granted" that soviet
money and its influence are respon-
sible," concludes: But once again 1t
has failed. as 1t has failed SO often
in its plots of late"