The Washington times., 1922-07-10
MoNEY-TRADE
German Crisis.
France to Blame.
Lesson to, Americans.
Stay Out.
BY GEORGE w. HINMAN.

brink of the inevitable precipice.
Before these words are in type she
may be over - and In chaos. Or
the catastrophe may be weeks or
months off. But II 10 sure; II will
be there.
What is the reason? That Ia a
question that must interest every
American business man Of large
affairs. It should interest every
American who works for a living.
As Americans already have a stake
Of SIS ,009. 900, 900 to $4,000 ,0o0, 900 in
Europe. as Germany has desired
$3.50 900 900 more as Russia has been
reaching for an additional 81 ,00O. .000.-
900, and as European loans in $25..
000, 900 and $50, 900 coo amounts have
lons been the order Of the day in this
country's investment market, no one
country outside Of the bankrupts
themselves has occasion 10 feel
keener concern over the financial
cohvulsions that shake the nations
east Of the Rhine.
France to Blame.
What then ails Germany? Why,
with all her industry does she grow
steadily worse? What Is the cause?
The answer can be given in one
word-France.
There is no sentiment in this an.
swer. simply business. Allow all the
wickedness charged against Ger
many in the war.N The business facts
Of the economic situation since the
war and today are still plain and
unaltered.
In defiance Of American protests
-
lands constant warnings and occa-
sional threats, in spite OF the oml-
nous signs Of coming business dis
aster, France has insisted on con.
tinuipg in peace the war that has
been waging between her and Ger.
many, off and on, for the last 800
years.
For this purpose she has cut off
Germany's one working hand in the
Saar Valley, Germany's other work.
ing hand in Upper Silesia. and then
has demanded that Germany, with
the stubs, deliver to her the goods
specified In the Versailles treaty. She
has taken coal and geese and cattle
and boats from Germany. and re-
quired that, manned and then
stripped. she. pay war indemnities In
sums greater than the value Of the
whole country at sheriffs sale.
German Rulers Weak.
To assure as far as possible Ger.
many's payments, France. with her
allies. has kept in office in Berlin
a feeble, inept. incompetent govern.
ment-a government which would
say Yes" to her every demand
when humanity possible and let the
-
weakly and cheerfully would bank.
rupt itself and the nation to buy
peace with France on the one hand
and sufferance from the German
people on the other.
From a nation thus pauperized,
thus deprived OF the very tools with
which to work. and MANNED in the
limbs IL must work with. from a
government thus emasculated and
lntimidated, France has demanded
prompt collection of taxes, severe
economy Of administration and all
the efficiency that goes with inde.
pendence, authority and sovereignty.
Backed by the other allies, she
recently called on Germany to
cease printing the paper money
whose sudden decline now an
nounces the beginning Of the end.
She might as well have forbidden
President Ebert to breathe. With
the German government that France
insists on, IL Ia print paper money or
drop dead. No other resource Is
left.
Lesson TO Americans.
Why in America review the de-
tails of this money-mad policy that
France and her allies have imposed
on Central Europe7 Why In Amer.
lea dwell on the measures that are
spreading black death over bus
ness from Vienna TO Berlin. from
Berlin to Warsaw, and from War
saw to Budapestf
Simply because, after the ruin 10
accomplished, the business men OF
Paris, London and Rome will turn
to the business men OF this coun-
try again and demand-not request,
but dernand-that In the name Of
humanity, mankind, or what not,
we send over a few more billions
of our resources to save France
and her associates from the dire
conseauences Of their own greed
hatred, feroeity and short-sighted
folly.
There is only onS cure for the
plain fatuity which Ia causinR the
present business crihs In Europe,
Il is that those responsible for Il
suffer the penalties OF their own
acts. There is no other. The ex.
perience Of three years proves this.
And as thers Ia only one cure for
Europe. there 70 only one Lesson