Evening star., 1921-03-27
Ill Effects of Military Sanctions.

The Koelnische Zeitung unembar-
rassed by being published in British
occupied territory, declares that the
cial effect and will please nobody ex-
cept the militarists and annexation
lists. The paper draws attention to
the serious consequences for Germany
and for Europe of the economic sane
tions; the occupation of the coaling
ports is a serious blow to the eco
nomic life of Germany: the tax which
the entente is levying on German
goods in the countries where they
are purchased will soon make these
goods vanish. It is not yet proved,
however, that German commerce will
alone suffer from these measures.
How about the neutrals? Besides,
will the twenty-seven countries OF the
entente all collaborate in this policy
of economic penalties?
The establishment of customs on
the left bank of the Rhine leads to
the same result: damage for all those
interested without any appreciate
advantage for anybody. The peace
treaty declares formally that every
customs separation from the occupied
of the populations. Everything de-
pends on the way which these inter-
ests are understood by the entente
Every one capable Of reasoning on
political economy must understand
clearly the disastrous consequences
OF the sanctions. Evidently the
entente does not know how to reason
on economies: In reality. these
economic sanctiens are simply a new
triumph of those politicians who have
been preaching aver since the arml-
stice the gospel Of the Rhine frontier
realize the dream OF separation. 1t is
to be regretted that the population OF
the occupied territories have to bear
the expenses Of this policy until this
dream is recognized as Madness"
The Deutsche Zeitung attacks
and imperialistic. and has no illusions
about the help that Germany might
expect from England, the latter be-
ing condemned by the general politi-
cal situation to follow France. 1t
says: :.
follows that 1t is our duty to master
our nerves and not waver in our reso-
luton from the effect of fear or
weakness. Doubtless, the French
armies can overrun Germany, as IN
the times of Napoleon. That has hap
and the German people are still alive
The experience of history shows that
enemy occupations can never last
long. In this particular case the
French may soon be obliged to recall
their troops to avoid a catastrophe"
The Berliner TaKehlatt, generally
classed as pro-British. found 1t hard
to Justify the British attitude at the
London conference. 1t believes that
the allies as q whole might have
shown greater readiness to reach an
amicable settlement:
with little good will on the part
of the entente. an. understanding
might have been arrived at, instead
of the sanctions. We have
already seen the allies give them
selves up to a similar policy of illu-
sions. This time the allies will see
what 1t costs them to abandon them
selves to illusions instead OF looking
realities in the face. The days of
Versailles. which were grand days
for the allies, have changed. Today
the will of Germany will not be modi-
fed by means of threats nor will she
abandon q decision which every one
und derstands. Unity. the first condt-
tion Of all power of resistance, is only
possible with general calm II we