The New York herald., 1922-07-16

pecially in Bavaria, dates from 1919.
when there was Bolehevik republic
in Munich. Many of the leaders in
this uprising were Hungarians and
Galicians. who had crossed the from
tiers Illegally, and who were financed
by Bolshevik money.
Fall of Mark Causes Trouble.
This aroused fear followed by hostil-
ity toward foreigners. which the Ba-
varians at least have not been able to
overcome in night. The constant fall
in the value Of the German mark and
the relatively greater buying power OF
foreigners with dollars. pounds and
francs in turn aroused popular discon-
tent and jealousy, in large German
cities, where foreigners gather.
This unrest has been artificially stimu-
lated by many German profiteers VINO
seek to cover their own dealings by
spreading reports broadcast that for
eigners were buying the Germans out OF
house and home.
There is enough truth in the state
ment to give color to 1t. In cities
along the Dutch and French borders so
great has been business across the from
fered real hardships.
Bavaria during the war was very
parsimonious Of foodstuffs grown at
home, refusing to meet either the needs
of Prussia or of Vienna. German far
mers in general live better than any other
part OF the population. have never really
suffered from hunger. and now. as In
the past, are inclined to leave the cities
to shift, for themselves. They find 1t
more profitable to turn their milk into
cheese to sell abroad or to a paying
clientele in the cities. The people who
see only the fact that goods are not on
the market are inclined to believe what
Is told Z EN- that foreigners are taking
away their bread" The dollar. too, has
become the one symbol of real money
in Germany. Any one with dollars is
supposed to have unlimited buying
power.
Some Americans in the way they
throw around their money. their pockets
stuffed with paper, do much to increase
this impression. As tourists must neces-
sarily spend their money more or less
conspicuoasly they should not interpret
subsequent unpopularity as directed
against them as Americans.
Police Rule Irks.
The German police to-day, as they
always have, demand that foreigners
register Ordinarily the hotels look
after this for their guests. To go to the
police station Is always nuisance
especially in Bavaria. where the wheels
of bureaucracy turn exceedingly slowly.
Americans should remember that Ger
many has frontiers to the east There
are half a million refugees. stragglers
and discharged soldiers from shattered
armies and among them suspects of all
sorts who have passed into Germany.
The German police for public order must
exercise some control over foreigners.
The only Inconvenience is that the police
too rarely discriminate.
Then there Is sort Of discrimination
which makes any Americans blood boil.
A storekeeper who makes different
prices for different customers goes in
the face Of principles of equality and
honest business. When small store
does 1t the experience is unpleasant. but
when governments take a hand. then 1t
becomes a constant irritance. Such,
however. Is the case in nearly every
country of Europe with regard to pass
ports.
In Bavaria this semi-official discrim-
ination in prices has been pushed to the
limit. On the advice of the Government
the hotels demand from two to five
times the amount a native must pay.
Tho Government has a scale of prices
for the theaters and museums which
varies with the color OF the passport.
When an official catches sight of the
American blue he Immediately screws
the price up to the maximum limit
This Is the discrimination which Is
making most Of ths trouble. When the
Germans tried II three years ago they
came into conflict with the Allies fo4
violating the Treaty of Versailles and
met such Indignation from the forei gners
with whom they had found contact that
they hastily abolished It, Such is likely
to be their experience now.
Such variation does not really fix
scale of prices adapted to the incomes
of foreign tourists. True there are con-
spicuous American spenders In Germany
but still the most In evidence are the
homo grown profiteers who made money
smuggling In American cigarettes or
English cloth and who now seek to
spend II as fast as possible to avoid
pay Ing taxes.
There are many shops In Bavaria
which either refuse to sell to foreigners
---as though foreigner who really
wanted something could not get a Ger
man TO buy for hin--and more which
make price discrimination between
Americans, other foreigners and Ger
mans. There are a few In Berlin and
In other German cities which do the
same. But in general German stores
sell their wares Mt fixed a..i listed
prices where any one can 60 and buy.
The experience OF the Berlin Bureau
In this particular is that in retail deal
ings German merchants have kept most
Of their former high principles intact.
With few exceptions of blunt discour-