Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-02-05
EVENTS OF A WEEK.

The Developments in connection
with the German reparations ar
r~angenents are proceeding about ~
was expected. German public men
declare as with one voice that Ger
many will not agree to the financial
terms proposed, because payment on
those terms would be a physical inns
possibility Similar protests have
been heard before, and in almost all
cases they have resulted in some>
modification of the terms, in German
acceptance, and in tardy and partial
performance.
Aside from the tax on exports,
concerning which there are no very
satisfactory. data, the payments de-
cided on by the allied conference will
amount, altogether, principal and in
terest, to about 5000, 000, 900,
which is. computed to be equivalent
to a present cash payment Of about
$751; 00, ooo, 900. The payments are
extended over a period of ~ years.
and, Germany is to be given the OPP
ton Of securing some reductions by
advance payments in certain circum-
stances. 'n
1t il interesting to note in onnec-
ton with the discussion Of such vast
sums Of money hat shortly before
the beginning of the world war an
eminent economist whose name is not
just now recalled, in a carefully pre-
pared study of the question main
tanned that a general world gar was
Impossible because Of its enormous
cost, and that II such a war were
begun it could not last more thar six
months because by that time all the
nations involved would be bankrupt.
Tables Of figures based on the fin
ances Of the great nations were pre-
scented, forces armed and to be col
lected were enumerated, and the cost
Of land and nava operations were
estimated. The conclusion was that
a six months war would cost the
world $5o,ooo,o 900, 0oo, a cost which
the writer was sur would exhaust
the~world's resources. The war was
begun It lasted more than four
years. It involved nan times as
many men az the economist thought
possible. A demand is made on one
Of the nations involved for an insig-
%nificant fraction Of the cost, amount
ing to more than the scientist thought
possible as the total. And now, near
~ eve years after the war began,
more than three million men are n
der arms in Europe, waiting to renew
the fighting as soon as the weather is
fit.
In the house at Washington senti-
ment in favor of the lessening Of
armament was shown emphatically
in the treatment Of the army appro-
tpriation bill. That bill as reported
from the committee provided appro-
priations for army pay sufficient only
for an army personnel Of 10000 men
for the year following July l.. Every
W SiLOAL w pIoS3OC lol d loASSi 4 my
was defeated, in spite of the fact that
both thes.Nar department and army
e~xpertsshaye declared larger, enroll
ment essential.
A similar feeling prevails with ref
erence to naval matters but the sit
uation there is complicated by the
fact that naval construction is neces-
sarily slow, and preparation for it
must be>made long in advance. The
Borah proposal for a conference with
Britain and Japan has, however, met
much favor, and it has been declared
that the new administration will be
in favor Of a conference of all the
principal nations with the same END
in view. These developments are un'
doubtedly an accurate reflection Of
popular sentiment, which is emphati-
cally in favor Of the earliest possible
reduction Of expenditure on war ac'
count.
Japanese relations continue to b,
the subject Of negotiations and dis
cussion. It is considered probabl,
that in the treaty to be prepared tn.
Japanese will be conceded equal prop
serty rights in this country with othe'
aliens. This win render recently en-
acted California legislation void, bu
ii ID pointed put that California ma,
still accomplish her object by pro