South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-05-06
Other Editors Than Ours
PREPARATIONS"

France has succeeded very distinctly in impress
ing the world with the fact that the
against Germany will proceed unless the question of
reparatons is settled. Indemnity is the term
quite openly used although, throughout the and
the armistice and the peace negotiation periods,
that term indignantly spurned and it was in
sisted that the allies sought only just and fair
reparatons injuries inflicted the civil pOpula
tons Germany's latest offer OF 200 billion marks
gold Cor $4,000, coo OOO) is about three times what
disinterested economists Of high standing have
umated it would be POSSIBLE for Germany to pay
1t comes within 5000 100000 of the sum demand
Cd by the entente powers.
Quite aside from the amount of the indemnity.
the difficult question of manner OF
All the gold in the world would not suffice
to meet the allies demands and Germany owns but
small part of the worlds stock. II is obvious that
payments must be made in goods, in goods and
service. With show of reason, the Industrial
sts of Great Britain and to some extent that or
France object TO this solution. They argue that il
German manufacturers. backed by the German
government. forced to study for period Of 40
years how TO pay such vast sums abroad, in
addition providing for home needs, Germany will
be likely 10 develop her industries a point where
they will become supreme in the worlds markets
These objections would hardly apply TO method
of payment in services that has been several times
proposed by Germany, but haughtily rejected az
''unthinkable" by Frances representatives, and
stamped as insulting the national dignity by the
Paris Iress. This method is the furnishing OF Ger
man labor and materials for the actual work of
reparation devastated districts of France
Belgium For one thing IL IL certain that no better
way could be imagined for impressng the German
PEOPLE with the Nervousness of their governments
crime against civilization: for teaching them the
great lesson of the its foOlshness and Unproht
ableness from every point OF view. The net results
the almost inevitable changes such an expert
ence should work in the German mentality would
in the long run prove a much more dependable pro-
lection against future German aggression than could
military occupation Of the Rhine and the Ruhr val
leys.
1t is certain that the unfortunate populations Of
the devastated regions. who have been made suf-
fer sorely by these delays. have objection TO
the Germans tackling the task which their own
frightfulness made necessary. What then is the ex
PLANTATION of the refusal of the French government
TO France repeated by DR.. SimOns the German
foreign secretary. connection with his latest offer
of 10000 100000 gold marks total indemnity?
Speaking plainly it seems to be dictated by the
shortsighted and selfish big business and
banking interests that seek 10 monOpolize all posi-
bic profits 20 be reaped in connection with France 5
Industrial reconstruction Il is in line with the
fusal at the dctation Of these interests, 70
permit Lille cotton-mul owners TO purchase Ameri-
machinery. although American manufacturers
ready 20 make deliveries some six months
earlier than could the French machinery makers
To bar American competition. the damaged and
looted mills kept Idle. thousands OF men IN
employed. while consumers were Obliged 10 pay ex-
tortionate prices for reduced stocks IL ia keep
ing with the policy that allowed thousands OF
American automobiles purchased by the French
government during the but which its sudden
cessation found lying the docks or in the ware
houses az Havre and Brest. rot and rust in dis
use, rather than allow them to the marSet
and relieve acute transportation crisis. This
although French auto manufacturers over
stocked with orders that they would promise
deliveries within year. The policy is in line with
the adoption import tariffs so high as 10 be pro-
erately designed 10 hamper and restrict importa-
tions from America.