Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-03-20

Under Sucn OOuDle pEessuIc, tiS
German people should feel like the
man who. when informed on Sunday
evening that he would be beheaded IN
10 hours, replied, 1.-The week starts
we'll indeed" But the elasticity of
the German people, who in seven short
wears have been hurled from the sum
nit of triumphant hope into an abso-
lutely deepest disappointment, has re-
NAMED indestructible. They are
laughing hopefully today into the ra-
diant spring sunshine.
Unprepared for Farley.
1t is indisputable that the London
conference with the representatives
of the allies, was badly prepared for On
our part and the negotiations were
carried on without any productive
forethoueht on the part of DR. Simons,
the German foreign minister. This,
however, does not explain the errone-
Gus supposition that Germany could
pay more easily, or would pay more
willingly if the entente powers. on
very insecure legal basis, should push
/ their occupation troops further into
, Germany, threatening the industry and
commerce of the indebted state with
new letters. Yet the allies have pro-
ceeded on that belief.
France should remember that she has
land, Of one hundred billion paper
francs. and home debt Of two hun
dred billion paper francs. AS she must
pay interest on the foreign debt. this
burden eats up every year at least
fifteen billion francs. The building up
of the territory destroyed during the
war costs France as much more. 10
this outgo of thirty billion francs must
be added the normal budget expendI-
lures. So here we have an insufferable
condition for a country where the en-
only to eighteen billion francs. There
fore, he who strives for justice can
understand the French cry that Ger
many, who declared war. must cover
the deficit by replacing all the damage
done by her armies.
Destruction Faces Creditors.
Unfortunately, however, everything
comprehensive is not always possible
IN this world of reimbursement. Ger
many has no gold or other information
ally valid means of payment IN guam
titles worth mentioning 1T she were
to pay out the bulk Of her national
wealth, say by the sale of her mines
her forests, her railways, etc, she
would destroy herself and at the same
time kill the credits of her creditors
to obtain further payments. Ii she
were to paw the Tremendous sum OF
the indemnify in goods, that is to say,
by perfecting raw materials delivered
TO her then the countries which would
be swampend by these goods would be
thrown out of work and into INDUS
trial ruination. :,
Nobody wants Germany's paper mil
lions But even if they were taken IN
to the payment plan, the mark quick
" would sink to the depth Of the Rus
sian soviet ruble. Consequently, if the
most sacred righteousness Of heaven
and earth were in favor of the Paris
reparation demands, these demands
could not be fulfilled:
For this reason is it sensible to try
To force. by means of military and
economic means, poverty stricken
country. c,.
If Germany should agree, the ap-
plause- seeking allied prime MINISTER
with a signature, but the money would
not be Forthcoming. Germany would
he lost to the world as buyers and
forced to q life of slavery. In such
circumstances, such a power would be
filled with a passionate wish to break
it's chains. This reparation problem
dare not last longer than necessary to
make a film spectacle.
Unprejudiced experts, not blinded by
hate, must calculate the losses OF the
conauerors which must be restltuted,
and also must estimate the productive
power of the defeated.
Germany's workers and technical
experts must rebuild negotiations. with
France diminish the distrust OF our
creditors and adopt such mode OF
living as becomes poor people. Ger
many must tolerate this economic con-
dition which naturally must not be car
ried out with the arrogant PRESUMPTION
or demeanor Of the indispensable Turk.
Germany also may take on an obilga-
ton to pay to her creditors 40 to ~
per cent for 30 years from surplus ex-
ports over import returns.
If, in addition to that, she proves
by her honesty, by disarmament and
by peaceful domestic policies, that the
world in the future has nothing to
fear from her and for that reason
none of her neighbors need to con-
tinue to carry the burdens of war arm
aments, then she will have done every
thing possible toward the reparation
Of material damages and the political
wrongs Of the war.
victor's Rights Don't Apply.
\ In that event, it will be Frances
stern duty to recognize that the holO-
caust which swept the earth from 1914
to 1919, caused sufferings alike to the
Just and the unjust The after effects
Of such a world conspiracy are not