New-York tribune., 1921-08-15
BoraIn Pictures
TeutO1l Victory
AS Rivals Arm
Economic Supremacy to Pass
to Germany if Powers
Go On Voting Huge Sums
to Military Use, He Says
u. S. Trade Disheartened
America to Spend More on
Forces Than Former Foe
Must Pay in Reparations

From The Tribune'S Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Aug. IA. - While
Germany, defeated and disarmed. is
paying s3a, 100000 in reparations
for the World War, the United States
will pay greater sum for armament
at her present rate of expenditure,
Senator William E. Borah declares in
the current number of The Nations
Business. Senator Borah cites this as
threat of Germany's economic su-
premacy. unless other nations curb
their enormous outlays for military
purposes on land and sea.
"Despite her military defeat Ger
many, by reason of the shortsighted
and laundering policies of the Allied
and associated powers, may yet secure
economic dominance of Europe" SEN
ator Borah says. Defeat has resulted
in Germany being deprived of her
army and her navy. The burden of
armaments has been forced from the
backs of the German people. They
may now devote their energies and
their talents to agriculture, to indus
constitute the real wealth and strength
of people. Their genius will find
expression not in arms or on the mill
tary field but in improved machinery
and cooperative Industry. Every ounce
Of effort which they put forth will be
along lines which produce something,
which add wealth to the community,
which make for contentment and pros
perity to the people, which insure
greater physical prowess and higher
brain power
Vast Burden on Allied Peoples
"On the other hand, the Allied and
associated powers are carrying a vast
burden because of their great armies
and navies. These burdens are being
increased upon stupendous scale
Hundreds of thousands of their people
are to be engaged in lines which pro-
duce nothing, add no wealth to the
community. make not for wealth and
happiness, but for display, parade and
possibly for destruction and death.
The German people are compelled to
preserve their energies for things
which count. The Allied and associ-
ated powers are burying their people
under intolerable taxes, discouraging
industry, sterilizing human energy and
breeding discomfort through their ever
ut is true that Germany has a vast
debt upon her for reparations. But this
debt is no larger-and perhaps not so
large-than our own expenditures as
they would be created from wear to
year for armaments.
"Let US take the figures: Germany is
expected to pay an annuity of $500, ,OOO,-
600 plus 26 per cent of the actual
value of her exports. AS matters now
stand, the German foreign trade would
make this export charge amount to
about $4,000 100000, which would make
her annual payment about $760,000 900.
We will assume, however, that her ex-
ports will increase, so that at the end
many will have paid $33 900, 900 900.
Look at our expenditures for our mill
tary and naval establishments. We
expended for military and naval pur-
poses, from June 80, 1920, to June 80,
1921, 825,337 ,939. The army and navy
bills just passed will incur an expendi-
ture of not less than $3.50, 900, 900, per-
haps more. This would equal in forty
years a little over $33,000,00O, 900. So
we shall pay FOR our army and our
navy at the present rate an amount
equal to the vast reparations bill which
has been assessed against Germany.
Britain's Bill Exceeds Ours
France has an army of 100000 men.
The exact cost for maintaining this
great army do not know, but one can
imagine how stupendous it is. The
British army and navy combined call
for an expenditure much larger than
our own. Thus, while Germany has
her billions of reparations to pay, the
allied and associated powers are spend
ing their billions for their armies and
navies-we alone expending as much
for our army and navy as the entire
claims against Germany.
"The business men of this country
must realize, more keenly, perhaps,
than any one else just now, what these
expenditures and the taxes
thereby imposed mean to the business of
the future. There is little encourage
ment for men of business capacity to
plan and strive for success when they
realize, as they must, that their prof
it's are to be taken for taxes, and that
those taxes, when collected, are to be