The New York herald., 1921-06-12
If Big Bill Is Paid Many
Other Nations in World
Can Face Only a
Slump.
NEW SPIRIT IN BERLIN
Buckling Down to Task Noted
as Lethargy Similar to That
in England Grips War
Victors.
By SIR PHILIP GIBBS.

Special Cable to THE New YoRK HERALD.
Copyright, 1921, by The New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Berlin, June IL.
Since my last message from Paris
I have been studying life and arith-
metic in Berlin, and 1 find both Sub
jects of enormous interest. For what
has happened in Germany now in
the spirit of the people and in their
terrific financial adventure to pay
Allied reparations and avert eco
nomic ruin will decide the future Of
Europe. Upon their success or fail
ure the fate of many nations besides
their own utterly depends, and the
commerce of every country Of the
world will be profoundly affected for
good or for evil by Germany's effort
to fulfil her pledges and regain indus
trial prosperity.
l have had remarkable opportuni
ties for studying the political as well
as the economic situation in Ger
many, having met chiefs of political
parties, bankers, financial experts
and business men. who have stuffed
my head with facts and figures and
have analyzed their national possi-
bilities with the utmost frankness, as
really believe.
More interesting to me are my per-
sonal impressions of life in Berlin
as they come in moving about among
the ordinary people, not the political
those middle class and working folk
whose industry creates whatever
wealth Germany may have, who bear
the burdens of taxation imposed by
defeat, and whose strength of will
and body is after all the deciding
factor in this problem of German
reparations.
Affairs Normal I'm Appearance.
Outwardly, and to some extent in.
wardly, Berlin seems to have re.
gained its normal life and to have
emerged from the blight of war, It's
fear of revolution and counter i ,vo-
lutions has passed. Its food supplies
are free and uncontrolled. It's shops
again are richly stocked with all
those goods which we're scarce and
unobtainable two years ago-leather
goods, calicos, clothes of any kind
and many of the little luxuries of
daily life.
These people, swarming down the
Friederichstrasse and all It's tribu-
taries, or walking in the shade of
Inter den Linden, seem cheerful and
happy. They are all busy, and one
sees none of those crowds of listless
men and women who hang around
labor exchanges and make London
so miserable just now.
These Berlin folk are working
keenly and with wonderful energy.
Young men who come into hotels in
the continual traffic are not there for
idle hours. They bring black satch-
els stuffed with papers. They talk
business and look as If there were
plenty to do. There is no air of de-
lection or despair among people
conscious of defeat and of the tragic
years ahead, but rather among all
these Berlin crowds there is a look
Of alertness, good humor and conf.
dence in the future.
Imperial pomp and pageantry have
passed from Berlin. No guards sur.
round its palaces. Only few sicher-
heitspolizei tsecurity police in neat
green uniforms remain as a memory
Of all those military types who used
TO pass with such arrogance about
the city.
Much Different From London.
All that Is gone, yet Berlin still
looks like great capital. rich and
luxurious in its residential quarters
and its magnificent hotels. There Is
ceaseless line of automobiles
streaming up the highway of the
Kurfurstendam. After working hours
all the beer gardens and outdoor res.
taurants are thronged with people Of
every class. from those who spend
hundreds Of marks on their refresh.
ments to those who buy glass Of
beer and make It last long time.
In London one does not find such
outward cheerfulness, such general
resolution to make the best Of life dc.