Evening star., 1921-12-11
BRITAIN is GAINING
POWER IN GERMANY
Loan, Aiding General Reconstruction
Processes, Sure to React in Favor Of
Enelsh to Exclusion of Others.

ing the last fortnight. 1t Is notice.
able that the British have taken
den lighter and though this may be
an unpopular course in France, it
has progressed to a point where the
French undoubtedly realize they
must do something to meet the situa-
tion which threatens to throw Ger
toward the British to the exclusion
of all other nations save, possibly. the
Italians.
Should the British loan Germany
fe5.0o0.000. as has been asked. the
British will at once obtain a hold
upon German industrial powers as
we'll as sympathies. The Germans
undoubtedly will favor the British
in exports and reciprocal trade rela-
tions on every hand if they can
insist with the French that the al
lies be represented in control COM
missions to restrict the flooding of
Germany with paper marks and take
other steps to see that Germany plays
fair and square. but the fact that
that is assisting the Germans will
have tremehdous weight. Possibly
the full returns will not be achieved
by the British for many years to
come. but AShen conditions are re-
stored to some semblance of normal.
~ w
predominant.
The Anglo-German financial con-
Undoubtedly the British will par
ticipate in expected trade agreements
with the Russians. German indus
tries further. strengthened by British
capital will be able to accomplish
much toward reconstruction processes
81, n1l oF LN,yrn
British influence undou 1edly event
ually will be felt in Russia as in
Germany.
The British policy Of the moment
is not a new one. From the very first
days after the war when there were
storm clouds over the entire world
the British government has seen the
possible collapse Of European eco
nomic and financial conditions, and
as a consequence has in. a fashion
prepared for the day when Britain
could take advantage Of the situation
and mold events and destinies more
in. accordance with British ideas of
reconstruction processes. The British
have never moved with wholly selfish
interest in fostering policies leading
toward European reconstruction. I'm
doubtedly. however. England's pres
ervation always has been back of
every action, but there has been a
foresightedness embracing the fact
that even England cannot prosper un-
less all continental countries are
prosperous. To obtain return to nor
NAL conditions British statesmen have
fought from the very first. even to the
point of estranging allies from her.
1t is fact that. even though Eng
lands allies have resisted at times,
they today are standing with Eng
land in most of the far-reaching eco
nomic. social and financial plans that
have been advanced. all of which look
toward the recovery of Germany at
the earliest possible moment.
Much of the success of the British
will depend upon the restrictions that
are placed upon Germany by the inter-
allied reparations commission and
such agreements as are finally de-
cided upon in case a moratorium for
Germany is granted. 1t generally is
known that Germany can only go so
far in meeting the tremendous loads
that have been placed on her shoulders.
But how far is a question that has
aroused sharpest difference of opinion
in London and Paris. The French be-
lieve the Germans are taking. The
British are more inclined to take the
German word at it's face value. There
may be established such restrictions
upon Germany that these will go far
known fact that Chancellor Wirth be-
lieveS he has done much to establish
German good faith. On the other
hand. he is inclined to believe if the
allies insist on regulation of German
finances, particularly demanding tax
alton reforms. rather than enforcement
of taxation laws, much will be undone.
1t is known that the German pays less
taxes when he does pay than any
other of his continental brethren.
The allies want Germany to enforce
payment and make the Germans carry
the same heavy load other nations are
carrying that there be proportionate
balancing of Germany's internal ex-
penses with the income. But this may
prove unpopular. The Germans have
stated that internal conditions and |
expenses have drawn away from Ger
many's ability to pay reparations.
The allies want these deficits wiped |
out to facilitate reparations payments. |
But whatever decisions the allies
may take in the application of their |
demands, the feeling grows that when
the storm clouds have passed the Bri-
tish will be seen in particularly ad-
position in a revivified |
Germany with other allied countries |
on the outside looking in. And to say
this prospect is treated lightly in |
other continental countries is stating
the case mildly.