The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-04-23
LANG PRESENTS
GERMANY'S CASE
Charge d'Affaires in U. S.
Explains Sad Plight
Of His Nation
HE PRESCRIBES A CURE
First Among His Suggestions
|. Is That Reparations Bill
Be Made Reasonable"
BY KARI, I.ANC.

written Expressly for International New,
(copyrlrh,. 1872, ''ty''gi, by giir,,sr,,,,or,, Nan.
- Service.l
WASIIlNGTON.-JUrgent needs of
Germany concerning reparatIons
are only to be understood by review
ing the whole economic situation of
Germany-and the economic situa-
ton OF Germany after the war IL
only to be understood by comparing
II with the situation before the war.
Before the war Germany was al
; most able to supply from its own
soil the necessary food for it's whole
population--only about one-ninth
had TO be bought and imported from
foreign countries. This had been
achieved by an increase OF home
production through appll, alton of
intensive methods. But being main.
ly an industrial country, Germany IL
and was bound to buy considerable
quantities of raw materials. IL was
and is "veredelungsland." which
means that II imports to treat ex-
tent the raw materials, as, for in.
stance, copper, zinc. timber. cotton,
petroleum. india rubber, etc. to be
used for manufacturing and TO re-
export the manufactured goods
Thus Germany's imports Consldera-
bly, exceeded her exports. But this
excess was balanced by the German
mercantile marine service rendered
to foreign nations, by the returns
from German capital invested
abroad and the income derived from
German enterprise and labor In for
eign countries. The paying bal
ance" OF the German empire was
active" which means that Ger
manys income altogether was at
least as high as its payments.
Agriculture Area Reduced.
The cessions of territory as a re-
suit OF the peace treaty have re-
duced the area fit for agriculture
by 1875 per cent. IL was Just these
territories which furnished to the
other fparts of Germany In the bad
harvest of 19l7-101S nearly half n
million tons of grain, more than one
million tons OF potatoes and 100, 900
tility or the soil diminished during
| the war because 1t could neither he
plowed properly nor sufficiently
manured. In consequence of this
Germany now has 10 import more
feod than before.
The treaty of Versailles has de.
prived Getmany also of vast regions
where raw materials have been pro.
duced. Coal. iron ore. pig iron, COP.
were produced formerly within the
German territory must now be
bought abroad and paid for in Ger
man gold marks. The loss of the
German colonies deprived us of the
import of ray materials. which
amounted TO $1,000 900 gold marks
in 1912.
The indispensable import require
ments in raw materials and food
NSHtNN fta faNaaa L..
$500, 100000 gold marks annually
each.
There is no more income derived
from investments abroad, as all
German property in foreign coun-
tries has been taken away by the
allitd governments. There was up
to now no income from freight on
the seas and the whole merchant
marine has been taken away by the
allies.
} Apart from the expenditures in
the ordinary budget of the German
: reich there are TO be added the In
terror expenditures resulting from
! the war; interest on interior war
: loans, pensions and payments TO in
valids and families of killed soldiers.
: furthermore. enormous payments to
those manufacturers who have 10
deliver their productions 10 the al
: lied governments, e. e., coal. benzol,
/ tar sulphurlc acid. ammonia, phar-
! maceutic products, etc.
T For these deliveries Germany
does not receive any cash, but Just
, n post on its credit account in the
, reparation account books,
Furthermore. Germany has TO de-
4 liver--particularly for the recon
struction of Francc---tremendous
! quantities of materials, animals, etc.
, These materials and animals have
, to he appropriated and paid for in
, cash 10 the owners. Germany In
further expected to pay moro than
G,000,000,000 marks per annum in
cash for the cost of the large army
OF occupation on the Rhine is 1856
billion marks per annum for the
I, interallied commission In Germany
The allied governments have eX-
propriated and TO n great extent
expelled Germans living within
their territory and colonies. and
, have forced the German government
TO refund TO these Germans the
value of that appropriated property
In German marks and to pay their
home voyage The German govern
mont has to pay more than 3,000,-
100000 marks for this purpose only
p in the fiscal year 1899.
= Treaty Claims Heavy Drain.
Added TO this come the expenses
emanating from the clearing
proceedings. estimated for the fiscal
> year 1922 10 amount TO IS 900 900.
2 600 marks; the payment of the diff
ferent claims arising out OF the
, peace treaty, estimated at 2072 bill
lion marks.
, Last, but not least. Is 10 be men
toned the terrific burden OF the
D reparations payments, amounting
, TO almost innumerable billions OF
German marks
~ Such an amount Of payments
| might be an insupportab'e burden
( TO a healthy and wealthy nation, as
for instance, the United States; the
o old German empire before the war
! with ITS comparatively small wealth
A could never have met such obliga
tions, much less the new German
, republic, burdened with the conse
quences of war.
Now the above payments viii not
:, be accepted by the creditor nations
= In paper marks, but only IN gold
!, marks. In order TO make these pay
y ments possible they must he pro
y In h,