Evening star., 1921-02-13
Proposal to Postpone London
Conference Until Harding
Becomes President.
PERIL FILLS SITUATION,
BERLIN WRITER'S VIEW
People Being Filled With Same
Propaganda Which Led to Mad
Adventure of 1914.
BY MACMILLAN HARDEN.
Cermnny.s Foremost Publfcist.

first two weeks or FEBRUARY ihiS"e
imagine that we had been carried
lack, by some evil witchcraft, to the
summer of the unfortunate year OF
1914 Buckets of abuse have been
poured over the five men who signed
the Paris decisions on reparations
and disarmament. This has come from
those who. despite contrary expert
ence, still believe it to be the best
way to express national strength.
1t is true that we have not gone
back so far as wild rumors of poison
ed wells. bomb throwing in the Urem-
burg station and motor cars rushing
through Germany with the golden
treasures of Nibelungen. But there
10 even more talk about the duty of
preserving our national honor at all
costs, and likewise about the una
nimity of popular will. despite party
allegiance. The stage is suitably set.
There have been the usual run Of
speeches and interviews by ministers
of the cabinet, and discussions with
leaders of the federal states. and
parliamentary parties.
Again Look to America.
And, once. again, will o. wisp iilu-
sions appear. One person declares he
knows positively "America is on our
side and Germany's enemies will be
surprised when Harding becomes
President" Another swears that Eng
land is secretly pledged to leave
France and her gigantic claims out
in the cold. Morning. noon and night
decisions are announced after meet.
mover studied the treaty nor the
indemnity question, but who demand
a hrm refusal from the government.
Leaders of the nationalist party are
loudly demanding, indeed. that Ger
many seize this opportunity to tear
up the whole despicable treaty.
On the other hand, the edict of the
Paris conference that Germany must
pay a large indemnity already has
threatened to tighten the income tax
screws used by the nationalist party,
which today represents landed proprfe-
tors and the richest industries. The
party has seized upon the income tax
as a means of agitation at a very
opportune moment.
This clinches great victory in the
Prussian diet in the elections of
February 20. which was probably any
how on account of the stupidity and
internal dissensions of the labor
parties as well as the emptiness of
what is here called "citizen democ-
racy." II these hopes are fulfilled
and the nationalists gain So many
seats that they form firm majority
with a conservative wing of the
Catholic center party. then. in the
spring. Prussia. like counter reyolu-
tionary Bavaria. will become a sort
of secret kingdom rejoicing in every
opportunity to advance the cause of
monarchy.
A Cause for Anxiety,
Although it might be useful as a
lesson II our superpa,riots were
forced to demonstrate their witch :
craft for the saving of the fatherland
whoever is acquainted with the lack
OF scruple of these cold-neryed men
and the fury of their followers vii,
not regard, without grave anxiety a
development threatening both North
and South Germany with strong mill
tary and monarchistic reaction tba,
would restore the old spirit of 1914
TO the two largest federal states
After the call for the Prussian e,ec.
tions,. the reactionary change in
public opinion will require a new
reichstag election. The present gov.
ernment seems already prepared for
it; otherwise it is impossible to com.
prehend its sterile and in all ess.r-
tials reactionary policy and the en-.
couragement of a daily demonstra-
ton against the allies ChanceIIor
Ferrenbach. who was a violent on.
ponent OF the November, 1918. revo.
luton and the loudest exponent -,
revenge for the Versailles treaty ,s
we'll as Foreign Minister Simons. tbs
royalist lawyer from the legal do
partment of the foreign Office. wb,
composed all the notes of nrote.,
signed by Brockdorn-Rantz and
q
speech delivered by him in IN.
Hall of Mirrors-these two men n,,
homage to the sublime sufferer y,
Doorn." 1t is not difficult for tbes.
gentlemen-among whom there is M,
a single republican by conviction
TO set the sails of their ship to catct
the winds of nationalism. All o,
them deny that the imperial govern.
ment caused the war or the inhum,,
measures that were used. From tn.
reefs of this belief they push IN,
people still further into the foamj,.
whirlpool of opinion that German,
is not obligated to pay and that III,
victor's demands are mere robbery.
Peril Not Realised.
The situation is far more perilou,
than Is imaginable from a distance
fConfipued m IaOa