Evening star., 1921-10-24
GERMAN CABINET
CHANGES POLITICAL
Only Hostile Attitude of New
Men Considered of I'M
portance Here.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Gcrmany's cabinet changes are pure
ly political and not economic. Unless
the new chancellor adopts an attitude
Of hostility toward fulfillment of Ger
man obligations to the allies, the new
ministry will be of no particular i'm
portance externally
This is the view taken in Washing
ton. where the approa ching proclama-
tion of peace between Germany ana
the United States is counted upon to
help any new ministry in Germany,
provided that ministry shows the same
good faith as did Chancellor Wirth IN
attempting to meet reparation pay
mentS.
The cabinet change in Germany
comes at Il critical moment. The next
payment due the allies from Germany
is on November 10. official reports
have indicated for some time that Ger
many would pay the installment due
next month, though there has peen
some doubt about her ability to meet
the next one, in March. The 1eelins
here, however. has been that II the
German cabinet were properly sup
ported it would be able to consolidate
the various elements in the situation
so as to get by the March payment
too.
"Haughty Air" Tendency.
Nothing, on the other hand. would
he regarded as more unfortunate
than tendency on the part OF tne
new cabinet to assume naughty ar
toward German treaty obligations;
This, our people here believe, would
only give France further excuse for
The maintenance of a large standlhs
army and the continued expenditure
If money for military establishments
which ought to be devoted to the IN !.
dustrial rehabilitation of France II
not to the payment of her own war
debt.
on intimate terms with all the Farl-
GUS political leaders in Berlin, anu
such indications as he gives OF tne
impending changes would iead 10 .ne
ticularly if controlled by Herr Strsse
man of the peoples party, wouid pc
us sincere as was Chancellor Wlrth
Until the downfall of Herr Wirth II
was not realized generally what
stabiliZing force he was in the coun-
ellis of Europe. For the first time since
the war the work of a German chan-
cellor was openly commended In the
French parliament by her premle r.
Mr.. Lloyd George did the same in the
British parliament, and on one occa-
sion here Secretary Hughes TOOK oc-
casion to show his faith in the good
intentions of Chancellor Wirth. Ger,
support from the allied and asso-
ciated powers.
1t would set Europe back a whole
year if the new chancellor attempted
10 appease the monarchists and con-
servatives by defying the allies again.
The first expression of the new cabi-
not is therefore awaited with Keen
rst interest Certainly as the repre-
sentatives of the principal allied ana
associated powers gather here next
month evidence of a recalcitrant in
stead of an obedient Germany would
injure the chances for an understand
ing on land armament.
Chancellor WirthS downfall is di-
rectIy attributable to the decision OF
the league of nations councils to dl-
vide Silesia, but basically he was un-
popular with the manufacturing in
terests because he favored heavy tax
alton in order to raise the money to
pay reparationS.
Official Washington is waiting to see
how the new chancellor will handle
the fiscal situation, for upon it de-
pends whether Germany will be able
to. meet the terms of her financial
agreement with the allies.
Copyright, 1921