Evening star., 1921-09-04
BATTLE OF FACTIONS
IN NGERMANY COMING
Real Test Will Come When Wirth Tax
Program Is Applied -Monarchists
Everywhere Active.

heavy levies which the socialists of
both wings insist be placed. The ma
1ority and Independent socialists COM
posing the great middle class Of Ger
mans will feel direct and indirect tax
alton as they have never felt 1t before.
cal elements will most certainly resist
the government levy on wages.
VIII Strike All People.
The Wirth tax program, 1t is stated,
will strike every man of every class,
and as a result, when the Reichstag
convenes. If 1t does convene, Septem-
Der u. Will be the scene OF bitter
acrimony.
By appealing to. the people to re-
sist the monarchists, Chancellor Wirth
may build up~such sentiment before
hand that when he does convene the
Reichstag he can point to the dangers,
menacing the nation and ask for a
vote of confidence. Interpretations
as to the promptness with which the
German republican government has
met all allied reparations demands are
sure to come. The Ebert regime at all
times has shown complacency and has
been bitterly scored by the enemies
of the republic. This undoubtedly will
react to greater or less extent dur
ing the coming months. but II Chan
to the majority parties that II they
oust the government, repudiate the
tax program which is necessary If
Germany's obligations be met as Ger
many is bound to meet them, the mon.
archist will resume their old role of
distatorial ambitions inimical to the
interests of the people at large. he
may stave or an untoward political
end. On the other hand, the mon
archists VIII have plenty Of material
tax problem to stir resentment against
the government. They might swing
enough support away from the repub-
lican forms to insure success OF
counter revolt and for the re-estab-
lishment of the Hohenzollerns. But
this is doubtful. However, it always
is possibility. the feeling in Ger
many being as strong as 1t Is.
Sincere as to Allies.
But though Chancellor Wirth pn-
doubtedly is playing politics to great
measure and making the most of any
people from the leaders Of the old
order, it nevertheless is fact that
he seems absolutely sincere in his
desire to meet Germany's obligations
to the allied governments in order
that further sanctions be avoided and
that Germany. by show Of good faith.
may regain, to some extent at least.
the old prosperity. which alone~can be
achieved through cooperation indus
trially and economically with other
L 81
they will regain Germany's lost power
and may prevail upon tens Of thou
sands of the unsophisticated, but 1t 1s
more to be believed that greater
portion of the sober thinking people
realize that strict compliance with the
treaty Of Versailles and all prepara-
tions agreements is the only course II
the present growing Germany is to
continue. That is must continue II
Germany is not to perish economically
and financially is also agreed.
According to all reports which have
reached London. Paris and Washing
ton, the German people are working
as they never worked before. The
industrial situation in Germany Is
better than in any other country save
possibly Belgium. The French now
have high hope that the Wirth gov
ernment will continue as has London.
Allies Would Take Hand.
1t is to be expected that any un-
toward swing toward return of the
monarchist regime Will bring sharp
decisive command on the part OF the
allies to desist. With the threat of
sanctions which will hang over Ger
many for fifteen years, 1t easily may
be seen just what potent influence the
allies will have. They may be hated,
and the feeling against them undoubt-
bring effective resistance against
them. The enemies Of the monarch
lists realize this full well. They know
also that if present forms without
menace to the new order are con-
tinued there is a constantly increas-
ing disposition on the part OF the al
lied governments to show 1eniency In
the treatment of German affairs. This
leniency is highly desirable to Ger
many economically and financially.
and when the crisis does come. as 1t
undoubtedly will during the next four
to six months. the republican regime
will find supporters by the millions
even in the face Of monarchial ten
denotes.
are watching the situation closely and
will permit nothing to transpire in
Germany that will tend to weaken the
treaty of Versailles or tend to un-
dermine Germany's obligation to the
world.