Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1921-03-25

countries to the point of exercising
pressure for relief.
If the German government has no
other plan in the back of its head a Id
as the entire matter is largely one of
economics, it will be solved by an
unusual economic methOd-the appll-
cation of tariff principles TO war prob
lems-not an entirely new method, but
one which never before has been ap-
piled on such an extensive scale. The
spectacle then arises of victors max
ing a forcible but otherwise peaceful
occupation of a conquered nation, ex-
ercising a supervision over its trade
and industries, and collecting in the
form of dutieS-sanctions is the dip
lomatic word used to cover the rami-
f1catiOns of the transaction-the repa-
rations demanded.
1t will be interesting to watch the
methods by which the allies shall pre-
vent German goods escaping the tariff
embargo through the nearby neu-
trail nations. Already a modified
blockade has been suggested, along
with an occupation of all the land
borders, extending inward if resist
anc develops, of Germany. To this
end comes an intimation, probably
most skillfully steered from Paris.
that Poland is ready to invade Ger
many at a moments notice. The al
lied Rhineland high commission has
in effect recommended to the council
of the allied nations that tariff sched-
Hles shall not be imposed which will
crush the industries of the Rhineland
territory, but shall have a punitive
effect upon Germany.
The plebiscite in Upper Silesia is
expected to affect the situation. If
Germany loses that rich territory she
will be in position to claim still
farther her inability to meet the repa-
rations. If the election throws the
country to Germany her economic po-
sition will be improved. In either
event an excuse will be presented for
further negotiations.
. Russia's revolution seems. to have
been checked temporarily at least. with
the evacuation of KrOnstadt, restOra-
tion of a more or less orderly condi-
ton in Moscow and the removal of the
immediate menace to Petrograd. The
operations of the revolutionaries
around the latter place were doomed
to failure when they failed to take
the stronger d~efenses of the city such
as fortress Krasnaya Gorka.
The Red government has been sue
cessful, but its weakened hold is seen
in the fact that the revolution move
ment started among the soldiers and
sailors, the. forces which made the
establishment Of the government pos
sible and heretofore have been its
strongest adherents.
AS indicative of the seriousness
with which the government is menaced,
and it's desire to placate other na-
lions is the ratification of peace with
Poland and signing of the long dis
cussed trade agreement with Great
Britain. The Russians had been re-
ported as massing heavy forces OPP
posite the Polish frontier and MAX
ing strong threats of a spring often
sive. But now they want peace. In
the negotiations with Great Britain,
which have been long drawn out and
the subject of arbitrary appearance.
at least, on the part of the soviet au-
thorities, they have capitulated in
several respects, the most important
being an agreement to cease all prop
uganda in other countries. Great
Britain agrees on her part not to mix
in Russian internal affairs.
st. Patrick's day did not usher in
the much discussed truce or even i'm
portant negotiations for peace in Ire
land. That such negotiations are not
brewing and probable, cannot be
stated so positively. Undoubtedly
strong agencies are working toward
the opening of negotiations. In view
of the determined stand of the British
government and the equally strong at
titude of the Sim Fein, some change
In conditions must present Itself be-
fore either side feels like altering its
position. Lloyd George is reported to
favor postponing action on peace I'M
til after the elections of the new Irish
~parliaments. believing hat they will
result in a new Dali Eireann with
which he would be willing to negotiate
a truce. Meanwhile the state Of af-
fairs in the unhappy country continues
very bad with the daily toll of muir
ders. executions and disturbances
large and %grievous.