Evening journal., 1921-11-17
EUROPE
IN BAD STATE
Hugo Schlatter Thinks Can
collation. of War Debts
One Way Out
SEES BANKRUPTCY
IN PREPARATIONS

. Members OF the Hercules Club.
were addressed by Hugo schlatter.
following their monthly noon day
luncheon in the grill room OF the
Hotel DUPONT. today. Mr. Schlat-
ter, a former chemist chief i'm the
employe OF the Hercules Powder Co.
has just returned from a European
trip.
Mr.. Schlatter's address was on the
Impressions he had gathered on his
trip to Europe. He visited Eng
land. France. Switzerland and Ger
many. His general impression OF
economic and political conditions IS
that they are in a sad and disorg-
anized state. no one apparently
knowing or even guessing what will
be the outcome. Industries are
languishing in England. France and
particularly In Switzerland, although
october showed a slight improve
ment
German industry. on the other
hand. is apparently hourishing. NJ
Schlatter said. Conditions there have
been described as a panic boom. The
value OF German money is constantly
decreasing, the cost Of living and
wages are rising, although not in the
same ratio as the mark is dropping.
In August, when Mr. Schlatter was
in Germany, the cost OF living was
approximately ten times the pre-
war cost, whereas the foreign ex-
change value OF the mark was one
twentieth OF its normal value; in
other words. In Germany the mark
was worth double its quoted ex-
change value.
Mr.. Schlatter spoke at some length
on the peace settlements which are,
according to him. not settlements.
but Intellectual compromises, replete
with the germs of new wars. and
also on the effects OF the reparatiOn
payments Far from being an ad-
vantage to the victors. he believes
that they are a positive detriment
and should be changed 10 prevent
German bankruptcy and further de-
moralization Of conditions in the
other countries. AS a start what
he regards as the right direction. he
advocates the plan proposed by Brit
ArAA NNWAAlAlAArA. VI NAAANfAAAAANM nN the
United States of the ten billion dol
lar debt owed by England and
France to be followed by their can
ceiling an equivalent amount Of
debts owed to them by other nations.
AS for making Germany pay for the
suffering caused By the war. some
other means should be devised than
the payment OF money which is not
doing anybody any good. Mr.. Scnlat-
ter thought
A painful impression is created IN
visitors by the moral let-down that
is everywhere apparent and has
reached much larger proportions
than in this country. Mr.. SchlatteI
said. The relations between the
sexes have become very loose
lThievery, robbery and bribery have
increased enormously. Everybody
apparently disregards ordinances,
the breaking OF which does not in
volve moral turpitude.
After giving some personal exepri-
ences with passport difficulties and
street disorders in Munich, Mr..
Schlatter spoke OF the work done 10y
German chemists in the utilization
of waste and inferior raw materials.
Owing 10 the impossibility Of obtain
ing cotton, turpentine. gasoline, etc,
during the war substitutes were de-
vised. some of which bid fair to be
of value in peace times. Among
other things he mentioned the re-
fning or softening OF all kinds OF
animal hairs so that they can be
used in place OF wool, the manu-
facture of an airplane fabric from
wire netting and pulp. the use OF a
derivative OF naphthaline in place OF
turpentine, and in soaps and the pre-
paration Of a liquid fuel by treat
ing lignites and other low grade fuels
with hydrogen under pressure.