Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-03-04
The Impudcncc OF Germany

WHATEVER feeling of sympathy may
w have existed in allied and neutral
countries for Germany with respect 10 the
Indemnity to be eXacted for the savage and
destructive warfare she waged. has bcc. en-
tirely dssipated by her audacious offer of
$3.50 100000 in full settlement Of her
war bill of s55, 900, 900. O00, as assessed and
concurred in by the recent conference of al
lied Premiers 1T Paris. Small wonder that
the allied diplomats assembled in London
TO hear Gcrmany's countcr-proposals were
amazed at the mpudence which inspired
their presentation and disgusedly dismissed
tho delegation without listening to argu-
mcnts in support OF their offer. with the re-
mark from Lloyd George that Germany
appears to misunderstood completely the
realities OF the situation"
History presents no more truculent ex-
ample OF a vanquished nation snarlnglv at
tempting TO dictate the terms by which il
would free itself from the consequences of
the devastation wrought upon victor ma
tons in resistance to a war OF aggression
III which the most savage tactics were EN-
ployed to leave permanent desoation in the
wake Of its armies. The offer constitutes
nothing moro nor less than direct refusal
OF Germany to fulfill her obligations under
the treaty and deliberately invites the ap-
plication OF military and economic force to
crush the Indemnity out OF the nation
Aside from the l2is per cent export tax
hNcd upon all German goods sent out OF
that country for the period of the repara-
tions payments, the allied indemnity demand
has been generally regarded as reasonably
sicnlent. IL provides that Germany shall be
forced TO undertake TO pay Il capital sum
covering reparations. amounting to sell
oVo,O0o,oOo. approximately; that this sum
hnD iytn
forty-two years. Thus the German Day
mcnts in interest and in PRINCIPAL wouId
amount to about S55, 600 900 900, and the
average annual payment would be approxi-
maicly $3.50, 900, although the amount
OF the early installmcnts was reduced in
recognition of Gcrmany's present blight
This total would just about enable the Brit
lsh French and l}elGians To NEE, their cost
OF reconstruction and to nav their Amcri-
can loans. As far as Italy is concerned II
would not pay the costs of rcparation aud
at best would give her absolutely nothing
beyond the sum required to meet her Amcri-
can borrowings. Presumably the London
conference would have been willing 10
eliminate this export tax had Germany
shown any disposition 10 acccp. the in
demnity proper as a reasonable requirement
OF her war obligation
The climax Of the matter il rb,, ,ba
allies have reached the point az uccnrd
"hefe they recognize that there is lcf, in
lhem put one course TO pursue that /, is
useless 10 deal with Germany in a spirit of
justice and fairness. and nothing remains
Tor them 10 do bat 10 put into e,rect The
military ana economic pcnalfies for tbo
hohiG!nilincnt Of the Versailles treaty farms
thus, the correctness Of the French vicw
point from the outset has hecn fully ycr;
he'd III actual experience in the NEGOTIATIONS
carried on with Germany, and unloss Tho
natter quickly backs down in her attitude
Of obstruction. the movement OF tronns ,nto
the interior OF Germany 10 enforce cor,
piancc will soon he under fun head,Sov
with the consent and approval Of all The al
ied peoples. Germany must be made 10
realize that as an outiaw among tho ma
ions she cannot escape the rcnaliios M
her crimes She must be made to INV Ia
the nttcrmost farthing
Even a horse goes wrong once in q yl,iic
hut how would you like TO own thar mn
that knows tho location OF ali the st!lls in
Southwest Virginia?
Speaking OF slush, Jimmy Cox wasn't So
iar wrong after ali wheu be sized NM Tho
c. o. L. Doodle box.
Russian professor dies from effects OF gas
Of ,ns MS own making y Congress take warn
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