The New York herald., 1922-07-10
MICHAELIS ASKS AID
!. OF j. s. IN GERMANY
Former Imperial Chancel-
lor Says Moral Influence
Can Do Good.
FOR TREATY REVISION
Holds This and Modifica-
tion Of Reparations Will
Relieve Crisis.
WARNS OF AGGRESSION
Believes Further Occupation
Would Be Attended With
Grave Results.
FOR TREATY REVISION
WARNS OF AGGRESSION

Under the present circumstances
America, with her great moral influ-
ence, can do very much"
This was the opinion expressed by
DR.. Georg Michaelis, former Imperial
German Chancellor. discussing the
German crisis in the Hotel Astor yes
terday afternoon. For the most part
optimistic. the former war Chancellor
admitted that grave results might
come if aggressive penalties followed
default in the reparations. What these
might be. or. just what course the
present regime may run, he said that
he could not express an opinion.
The end" he added. will be good"
Germany cannot pay the reparations
installment which falls due this week. he
said. and the only alienation Of the tense
situation he sees is through modification
Of the reSarations and revision Of the
Versailles treaty. In each Of these, he
said. that the United States could play
an important part. He was inclined to
regard the latest dispatches concerning
the internal situation In Germany as not
so disturbing as suggested in some quar-
ters He said that the assassination of
DR.. Walter Rathenau and the attack on
Macmillan Harden might have conse-
quences similar to the Kapp revolution,
but he did not believe that a monarchist
coup. even II attempted, would alter the
NJ a.
nently. Disloyalty to the present Wirth
regime, he said, was the greatest peril.
and he would not be afraid to tell such OF
his friends as might have these tenden-
cies that they were tho worst foes of the
country, he said.
A dominating note throughout the in
'terview was his plea for cooperation. He
admitted the possibility of occupation of
more German territory in default of pay
ment of reparations. but intimated that
II such action took place--and of this he
was doubtful-it would be attended with
grave results. He did not believe that
aggression on the part Of France would
be sanctioned by either the United States
or England. 1"f 1I Hf -
Lacks Goods and Money.
'I' think I know what Germany can
pay he said. II think 1t is really in-
possible to pay the sums demanded
either IN goods or in money. We GER
tainiy cannot pay In gold. If the treaty
of Versailles Is not modified then It
really is impossible"
After quoting and Endorsing a Lon
don dispatch In THE NEW YORK HER
AID In which Sir George Paish blamed
France for the plight Of Germany, DR..
Michaelis proceeded to one of his hrst
references to the part he conceives the
United States may play.
II think America must help" he con-
tinued. THE reparations must be modi-
fed and the treaty of Versailles should
be revised, and In this America can help.
already have observed the immense
influence Of America in China and
Japan. Under the present circumstances
America with her great moral influence
can do very much.
Wants Real Conference.
not pay It is necessary now to have the
none yet Ministers have sat down to-
gether but they have discussed matters
to a certain point, have then said that
they could 80 no further because they
did not have the power and then have
gone home. That is true Of Cannes,
Genoa, and / believe 1t will be true of
The Hague. There can be no confer
ence without Germany on equal terms.
Germany was represented at Genoa
and Cannes while others conferred be-
hind closed doors, but we need now to
meet willingly as men and good fellows.
Then let's open the books and see what
Germany can really pay. u
This economic plan Ia for the de-
velopment Of the whole world. That
means Germany and Russia as we'll as
the other nations, for the problem faces
the whole world. The ministries, how
ever. should sit at the Same table as
friends and not enemies. There must
be cooperation"
AS to the Monarchist party and the
role 1t Is reported to have had in recent
internal developments. DR.. Michaelis
said that he did not believe the dis
turbances In the country were as great
as reported. From the present begin
ming of republican government In Ger
many, the former Chancellor hopes to
see an orderly growth which shall
move through parliamentary processes
rather than by force. One of his
visions is of q two party system. one
to be development OF the Conserva-
tive Right. national social and
Labor party. similarly nationa, and
social, and not un-Christian.
DIR. Mchaelis is returning to Ger
many this week after an absence of
| about six months. during which time
he attended the recent session of the
Worlds Student Christian Federation
in PelSin and also visited several weeks
In Japan where he was an instructor
in political economy IS years ago. War
chancellor and successor to Won Beth
IIolI al a ~
he is now head of the Christian Student
Federation OF Germany. a university
movement which bears some resem-
blance to some Of the work OF the
Young Mems Christian Association In
| this country.