New-York tribune., 1922-02-14
by frank A. Nanderlip

Germany, with the cxceptjon Of
''ussia' Which, for the present at least.
Is on the economic map, is the most
Populous OF European courtries. Ncr
1u'uro ts uncertain, fer hcr economic
structure il subject to great disab;li-
ties, and she is weighed down under
SO many burdens that it is difficult
TO see how her prosperity can be cs-
tablished.
In tho solutions of, her problems
other nations are inyolyed to a great
degree. Tho bankruptcy OF Germany.
the total collapse Of TIE elaborate
framework OF her financial snd eco
nomic lifc, might drag down the rest
o. Europe with It. Certainly Trance,
England, Italy, all o. thc remaining
countries in which dieintesration is
being at lesst outwardy checked,
would be staggered By the blow.
Already she area Of financial IN
stability involves 4 considerable part
OF the carth's surface. Can any one
believe that !. can be held in check
ol VAC rdiiAS O. IliS NElHC
superficial observer who made his
point Of observation the dining roonl
OF iirst-claas hotel. or untcr den
Linden and Lcipzj gerstrasac at night
might fad Il hard 70 reconcile the
evidences OF luxurious expenditure
with the story Of q financially stricken
nation. II he asked for an explara-
zion, ne would get It in one bitter
word - "Schieber'' - vhich translated
means proiiteey.
Since the war the widely fuctuatirg
ya4ue OF the mark has made it possible
Tor the fortunate speculator 80 make
Tar greater profits than the merchant
cr the manufacturer. Those who have
accumulate profits which have little or
no relation to service rendered spend
taeir money readily, like most people
who make easy gains. Consequently,
The hotel lobbies. the restaurants and
the night Gates evidence Oh extrava-
gance that would be most Misleading
II they were accepted rs substantial.
economic indices.
Extravaganza To BE Seen
In Every European City
AS q German said to NE: You vii.
see eXtravagant expenditure not only
in Berlin but in almost every Euro
pe&n city, including Vienna. but the
sights III the expensive restaurants and
in the gay night resorts are but The
. hectic flush on the cheek of the dyirc
patient
had ample opportunities to talk
with leading figures in the government
o. the new republic. At the outset T
Till say that the many interviews
which ] had with them LEFT me with g
feeling Of respect for them end Of
coniidence IN their integrity. Later
1 found my opinion Of them fully.
shared by some Of the most distin-
guished sta1esnen in England and
France
Wirth. tho Chancellor, wlo Is in the
position that Bismarck once held, is
not q spectacular igure, but after
meeting him you feel assured OF his
ability and his honesty Of purpose
He impressed rno IS being man OF
great courage and he certainly has
sood economic insight.
lie faces facts IS they are and sees
them i'll al orderly and logical way.
He wasted no time in discussions OF
the past and did not complain Of the
unfa:rnes6 Of the victors. But he had
of Germany's economic dilemma. Tie
presented them to me honestly and
with scientific com prehension Of their
meaning.
What they meant to him was plain.
He believed that unless there can be
some change in the economic factors
governing the situation the financial
ruin OF Germany IS certain.
Next to Herr Wirth. the most in,-
portant man in the direction OF the
new republic at the moment is Walter
Nathenau, Minister Of Reconstruct
l had read much he had written and
had formed the opinion that he had
grown so radical that it must interfere
with his administrative ability in prac-
tical industrial affairs. ] made good
many inquiries among llNanciers ard
others and Tas surprised 10 lind that
even the r1oar conservative bankers
regarded Herr Ratneuau rs one OF the
abIest il net the most able man u
Germany. He IS q Iiehrcv