Evening star., 1921-03-20
By MACMILLAN HARDEN,
Germany's Foremost Publicist.


Germany's Foremost Publicist.
By Radio to The Star.
BERLIN, March 1s.-In the west OF
Germany, the zone occupied by the
allies stretches from the seat OF cloth
manufacture, Aix-la-Chapelle. to as
far as the coal fields OF Dusseldorf
and Ruhrort. Tomorrow a plebiscite
is to be held to determine whether
the eastern coal districts Of Upper
Silesia shall remain German or be-
come Polish.
Under such a double pressure the
German people should feel like the
man who when informed on Sunday
that he would be beheaded in twelve
hours, replied:
The week starts well. indeed"
But the elasticity OF the German
people, who in seven short years
have been hurled from the summit OF
triumphant hope into an abyss OF
indestructible. They are Laughing
hopefully today into the RADIANT
spring sunshine.
Germany's Side Poorly Prese1ted.
1t is indisputable that the London
conference with the representatives
of the allies was badly prepared FOR
on our part and the negotiations
were carried on without any produc-
tive forethought on the part OF DR..
This, however, does not explain the
erroneous supposition that Germany
could pay more easily, or would pay
more willingly, IL the entente pow
ers, on a very insecure legal basis,
should push their occupation troops
e. s-t~
industry and commerce OF the In.
debted state with new fetters. Yet
the allies have proceeded on that
belief.
France should remember that she
has a foreign debt to America and
francs. and a home debt Of 100000
100000 paper francs. AS she must
pay interest on the foreign debt. this
burden eats up every year at least
Is, 600, 100000 francs. The building up
of the territory destroyed during the
this outgo of 10000 900. 600 francs
must be added the normal budget
expenditures So here we have an
insufferable condition for a country
where the entire taxes for last year
amounted only to 1S.000.000.000 francs.
Therefore, he who strives for JUS
tice can understand the French cry
that Germany, who declared war,
must cover the deficit by replacing
all the damage done by her armies.
Germany "Poverty-Stricken Nation"
Unfortunately, however, everything
comprehensive Is not always posi-
BILE in this world of realities. Ger
many has no gold or other inter.
nationally valid means of payment
in quantities worth mentioning. If
she were to pay out the bulk OF her
national wealth-say by the sale or
her. mines, her forests. her railways;
etc.-she would destroy herseif ana
at the same time kill the chances
of her creditors to obtain further
payments. II she were to pay the
tremendous amount of the indemnity
in goods-that is to say, by perfect
ing raw materials delivered to her-
then the countries which wouid pc
swamped by these goods would oe
thrown out of work and INTO lnous-
trial ruination.
Nobody wants Germany's paper mil
lions. But even il they were taken
into the payment plan the mark
quickly would sink to the depth OF
the Russian soviet Euoie.
ouently, il the most sacred righteous
ness Of heaven and earth were IN
favor Of the Paris reparation de-
mands these demands could not De
fulfilled. a..
For this reason ais it sensible to
and economical terror, poverty
stricken nation. which has to ppy @
American dollars at fifteen times the
pre-war rate, to sign a promIssory
note to pay within forty-two years
900 ooo; 900 gold marks; ;,,s Aesoud5 So11d
amount almost to 5000. 900. 100000
paper marks.
Would Create Passionate Hate.
If Germany should agree, the ap-
plause- seeking allied prime minister
could parade before his parliament
with a signature. but the money
would not be forthcoming, and peo-
pie SO long and firmly bound to-
gether. would be lost to the world as
buyers and forced into life slavery.
In such circumstances. and in spite
of the wisest pacifist advice. such a
people would be filled only with a
passionate wish to break its chains.
This reparation problem dare not
last longer than necessary te make
film spectacle.
Unprejudiced experts. not blinded