Evening star., 1921-03-20
SILESIA MAY BE KEY
TO GERMAN FUTURE
Should Province Vote Against Union Up
heavals Affecting Government and
Eastern Europe Are Likely.
terrible character all chancelleries in
Europe will be much surprised.

terrible character all chancelleries in
, Europe will be much surprised.
Allies More Hated.
Should the Silesian plebiscite def
nitely determine that this section is
to be united definitely with Poland:
the results in Germany may be OF
far-reaching character. During the
past ten days the constantly growing
French. has been increasing within
Germany. War even is talked of.
The French are blamed for military
incursion in the west and will be
blamed if the Poles succeed in Silesia.
With it definitely determined that
the Silesian coal fields will be lost
to the Germans. wave of still fur
ther nationalistic feeling is certain.
Already in sections occupied by
the allies industries are closing. the
lack of Silesian coal will be but fur
ther pretext for the industrial barons
of Germany to close more of their
works. which will result in chaos
throughout the country, with hun
dreds of thousands of workmen COM
pletely idle. This will be decidedly
government, which. in measure.
will be blamed for the ills of the
moment. particularly by the socialists,
right and left, who now declare that
much as they hate the allies ana are
ready to stand by national repudla.
ton of allied claims, the government
could have avoided further invasion.
The industrialists of Germany. al
ready criticising the government ana
being in unison with the conserva-
tive and monarchist element OF the
country, are certain to direct their
barbs against the government TO
further degree.
Plot Is Suspected.
It is this very thing that forces the
conclusion that today the industrials
and capitalists. wearying of the So
cialist st-democratic-soci regime.
and desiring possibly a constitutional
overthrow of the government with
the assistance of the laboring ele-
ment.
The one great drawback to any af-
tempt to restore even limited mon
archy in Germany has been the oppo-
sition of labor elements. both con-
servative and radical. Even mere
hints of monarchical regime nave
drawn fire from labor circles. Ihe
great Rhineland strike in connection
with the Kapp revolt is but an ihoi-
c.tior of the ouickness Of labor as
whole to act against any SCI"
of the old order.
Rut the present time is an auspi-
cious one for those who would aoan-
don the republic and set about 10 es-
tabiish government more 10 the ilk
ing of those elements which "oulo
pursue policies contradictory to those
prescribed by allied nations, even to
the point of war II need be.
With allied occupation of the Rhine
land countries and consequent disaf'
1oh oir loss
of Silesia and further closing of in
dustries, it is believed the sentiment
of the already pressed and overbur-
dened laboring man would be more
along nationalistic channels. In fact;
il is believed labor's support Wouid
insure the success of any movement
tending toward change in the pres
ent from Of government.
1t will be an easy matter 10 IN
fame the public against france.
Racial hatred against the allies has
been nurtured on every available
pretext. II the industrialists and
monarchists are successfu! IN con-
yincing the workingmen OF the ma
tion that the allies are responsible
for the terrible surerings that must
come through absolutely paralyzsd
Industries, then the task of the mill
tarists will be comparatively easy
for labors antagonism. and not pos
the force that has pevented the CIV
ing of the signal for the internal up
heaval.
Might FIout Allies.
Should the Germans win the Sile-
sian plebiscite the government may
continue with the tacit consent of
the industrialists and conservatives
for the time being. for. with the
Silesian coal fields and the whole OF
eastern Euroe opened up to German
exploitation, there may be open and
fagrant fouting OF the allies. for
German economic supremacy. despite
the loss Of control of the Ruhr re-
eions, will be enhanced Germany
eventually will be able to battle the
allies economically. in face of the
reparations stipulations Of Paris. and
it is the hope of the reactionaries
that, through the medium OF
stronger Germany industrially and
commercially. such agreements may
be effected as to swing both Russia
and Germany against the allies in a
war Of more grim character-one
that might lead to such another hoio-
caust as that Of 1914. For 1t must
always be borne in mind that the
Germany Of today is unchastened and
will remain so. There still is un-
bounded confidence that eventually
Germany is to be the one vital force
in world destinies.