The Washington herald., 1921-06-26

man situation which IL seems to me
II would be folly to overlook. and
this Is precisely big business. Be-
fore the war. and during the war.
German big business backed the
military party. 1t was the indus-
trial hierarchy behind the military
which gave German militarism Its
real potency, made II the danger IL
became. The reason was that big
business calculated that by war II
could attain ends which were unat-
tainable through peace. French
iron mines were to be ANNEXED. Bel
gium was to be included within the
German frontiers. German domina-
tion of the continent Yves to give
German business the opportunity to
organize the continent industrially
and commercially.
But the gamble turned out a dis
aster. The military arm proved in
capable of realizing the plans which
the economic commanders OF mod
ern Germany counted upon II to re-.
alize.
Now nothing seems less likely
than that German big business will
repeat the blunder. The world will
have to reckon with Germany indus
trially and commercially once more.
The German economic machine has
not been broken. Even the losses
territorially and otherwise which
Germany has suffered have not per-
manently incapacitated her. But
the world has clearly indicated that
IL is reconciled to German Industrial
greatness. provided only that II 10
not accompanied by a military pro-
gram of aggression.
1t Is automatic. moreover, that an
other war. a general conflict at any
time in the present generation.
would spell ruin for all of Europe.
AS far as Europe is concerned there
has been. in reality, no victor in the
last struggle. every combatant ma
tion has lost, and lost terribly. The
labor TO restore not prewar pros
perity, but tolerable conditions, has
been and will continue tremendous
for many years to come.
Must Oppose All War.
Thus big business in Germany will
find little temptation to renew its
old alliance with militarism. Rather
business and finance In Germany. as
well as out of II. must Increasingly
incline to oppose all war. to recog-
nize that any war represents losses
beyond the capacity of any victori-
Gus peace terms TO make good
II would be idle to imagine that
II will be possible to force the pace
in the improvement of Franco-Ger-
man relations. Friendly intercourse
between the two countries will not
come in the present generation, and
in the nature Of things cannot come.
But business association. tending to
Increase and develop, is well nigh
inevita Bile. And coincident with this
expansion will come the gradual
dimunition OF the most acute causes
of mutual hostility and distrust.
The truth is that a new German at
tack upon France would almost in
evitably array against Germany all
OF the western nations who success
fully opposed her in the last war.
On the other hand, II is equally true
that the western nations will never
permit France TO destroy Germany,
even were France to fall into the
hands Of leaders who sought this
end. a Circumstance wholly unthink
able.
Politicians Lose Their Grip.
Insensibly the world is passing
out OF the hands of the politicians
just as IL escaped the soldiers after
the armistice. business and finance
are reasserting a control lost In the
fatal twelve days OF July. 1914. Then
world business and international A.
nance were divided. because the Ger
man masters in both felds believed
that war would prove the most prof.
liable Of all investments. But the
results have demonstrated the fall
lacy OF this assumption. Today the
old solidarity tends to return. II
can only continue to develop. Peace
cannot be preserved by politicians
much less by soldiers. the ultimate
guarantee OF peace must be found
outside OF both groups, IL must be
found on the one hand in the in
stinctive hostility OF the masses OF
people for war. which lays upon
them the heavy burdens and de-