The New York herald., 1922-02-20
TAXES DRIVE ENGLISH
WRITER'S FROM HOME
Oppenheim Says He Even Is
Thinking of Leaving
His Native Soil.
SEES BERLIN WAR PLOT
He Predicts a Big Conflict
Again Inside of a
Generation.
DISTRUSTS AN OLD ALLY
Believes One Oriental Nation
May Line Up to Aid i'm
Tcutonic Revenge.
DISTRUSTS AN OLD ALLY


What fools we mortals be-" said Il.
Philips Oppenheim. story teller and
prophet. as he talked about men ana
things yesterday in his sitting room at
the Hotel Biltmore. Most folk seem
to think that the signing of a docu-
ment or two and the affixing of big
red seal or SO will put an end to war.
Folly ! am as sure that there will be
another war within a generation as that
] am sitting here.
Does any intelligent person. knowing
his Europe, seriously believe that the
Germans won't seek revenge for the
ruin and humiliation put upon them by
the stupidity conceived treaty OF Ver-
sai!les? The last war, started by Ger
many was not Kaisers war or a
junkers' war. 1t was the German peo-
pies war. They wanted it, They fought
II eagerly. Now they are biding their
time. struggling under a terrific burden
until they can hit back. And hit back
they will.'
Ten years before Germany struck
through Belgium Mr.. Oppenheim fore
told with singular accuracy OF detail
the Anglo-German conflict that actually
ensued and wrote industrously to con-
vince the English people that all Eng
land was infested with German spies
N'tli tllc DlS llOltlS rs CSUlCIS OIL tn6
system. In THE Maker of History"
"The Double Traitor" and many other
novels of international political intrigue
Oppenheim backed the warning of Lord
Roberts.
Prediction by Oppenheim.
Now. quite unaffected by the opinion
of the large majority that war will be
impossible for many years, a century
at least the novelist steps squarely into
the open with this prediction:
Germany is turning toward Russia
with desperate longing. Already Rus
sia is being exploited by the Germans
Every trick of policy that can be used
is being employed to win Russian friend
ship. To what end? To the end that
Germany in the new war alignment of
the nations can count upon giant Rus
sia, with inexhaustble man power as
her offensive ally in the revenge upon
France and Great Britain.
And not Russia. alone There are
signs of the times that men OF common
sense ought to perceive. There are tre-
mendous war forces arising in the Far
East. powers and peoples with bitter
grievances against the whites and
against particular nations of the whites
II mention no names. 1t is scarcely
necessary. But ! do call attention to
the absolute fact that Germany is now
counting with all ardor two OF these
great Oriental nations. 1t is also true
that while one of these nations was an
ally of Great Britain. France and
america in the last war, nevertheless
that nation has friendlier feelings for
Germany to-day than she has for any
one Of her former allies. Moreover. that
nation is developing policy which
ole fl,sa foxr xzaI
by Germany before the war. I'm afraid
that what l have been saying will not
be popular, but il is my conviction and
1t is based upon close observation, talks
with many men of many countries and
some careful reaesoning."
Goes to Monte Carlo Next.
The English novelist. author OF
seventy novels. $500, 900 copies of which
have been read in this country. is here
for conference with Little, Brown &
Co, publishers of Boston. and will sail
on March to so to Monte Carlo, To-
cality that has figured often in his
sprightly tales of love and political in
t1igue. He is gloomy over the state of
affairs in England, saying that the Gov
ernment is horribly eXtravagant and
not any too capable, and that the effect
of crushing taxation over there has to
be seen to be understood.
"The pound is going uphill again. be-
ing at s4.40 now, | believe" Mr.. Open
helm said. hut the process OF restoring
is value is pretty nearly killing most
Of us. The Government takes half of
what we can make. and I tell you that
artists. and especially people who write
for a Ewing, are depressed before they
begin work by the mere thought OF hav-
ing to slave to meet such a tax. Lots
OF writer's | know are quitting England
10 live in France--W. j. Locke, perhaps
tho best read English writer in Amer
ics: Compton Mackenzie and others.
I'm blessed If I'm not tempted myself,
much as | love the old country.
Calls Chamberlain n Boob.
"The truth IL. taxation should not he
so high. We happen to have Chan
cellor OF the Exchccquer who is a boob,
as I believe You Americans say. Mr..
Austen Chamberlain just does not know
that he Is alive. He lives and has his
being in the aura OF the great name
Chamberlain.
'"As for Lloyd George, like him we'll
enough. even admire him. but he was
never the man for Prime Minister. He
ii not and never has been q practical
statesman. I would be glad 20 see him
so, and in spite of what may appear
upon the surface of things, ! believe he
IS upon his way.
"Who will succeed him? It's hard TO
say England lacks the leaders she
should have IN such q crisis, lacks them
because the aristocracy and upper mid
die class. in which. as a rule. the best
brains have been developed because of
the opportunities for culture and for
lcrurc enjoyed by these classes, have
beer put down, discouraged.
III Balfour were not so old he would
he the very man. because he Is by far
the most able statesman England can
show. Lord Grey Is a possibiity--very
able and possessed Of the confidence OF
the British public. But ! have an idea
rhat the next Prime Minister will be
R,nar Law. good. substantial chap
with very practical ideas.
British Monarchy Is Solid.
~- notice interest over here in the
status Of the British monarchy. Never
soliderl No monarchs enjoyed more
real popuiarlty than King George and
Queen Mary. and as for the Prince, he
Is his grandfather's grandson, hirts with
half the girls IN London, carries a Won
derftll amiability and willingness 10
serve and is altogether the finest young
gentleman OF the age
Mr. OppcphciDl. talking about his own
work and his methods, said chat he