The Washington herald., 1922-07-23
The Tide Turns.

N for Germany The continued fall OF the
~ mark would be serious enough even if 1t
stood alone. AS matter of fact this is the result
of something more Immediately urgent and alarm
ing. The fall is out OF all proportion to the actual
increase in paper currency. The paper in crcula-
ton has doubled during the past twelve months
but the mark has fallen one-eighth or one-ninth
of the small value which it had year ago. 1t is
falling because OF nervousness due to the political
as much as to the economic situation.
- The German government is the clutches OF
conspiracy which removes those to whom it most
objects by assassination. Some eighty or ninety
people have been arrested for the murder OF Dr.
Rsthenau, but it remains to be whether jus
tice will be dealt out to any Of them. The record
of the extremists the monsrchial side has been
a -rible one. Since the revolution nearly 400
members of the Labor and Republican parties have
been murdered From Lebknecht to Erzberger,
from Kurt Eisner to Rathenau. leader after
another has fallen. Nobody is safe who serves the
state who darcs deal with the allies or who is
regarded obstacle to the return OF the mon
archy. The government is almost helpless. The
courts the majority of the police and the army
are in the hands OF the monarchists. Offenses
against the republic, crimes against socialists and
liberals go unpunished while any disorder the
socialist side is severely treated. Behind all the
trouble lies the reactionary center at Munich-but
out being able to its own safety it is not
easy to see.
1t is not possible for the tst of the world to
view this crisis with indifference. The dissolution
OF Germany is the dissolution of Central Europe
and is immediate effect must be one Of two ex-
>tremes-a form OF Communist anarchism, or a
monarchist reaction The whole meaning OF the
great war; as it was explained to Americans when
they were asked to fight, was the preservation Of
end was gained when the Kaiser fed. 1t will be
lost il he, or any of his family, is restored
But the rest OF the world cannot wonder at
conditions in the conquered nation. The Germans
have found themselves treated defeated state
ever has been treated before in modern war.
They have been treated worse than they themselves
treated France in their hours OF victory. They
have been treated worse than the Kaiser proposed
to treat anybody else if he had won the last war.
The young republic is placed in an impossible
position with territory taken here and occupied
there with the main supplies OF iron and a great
part OF the supplies of coal gone, and debts its
neck that it never can pay. The wonder is that
the government can find any supporters-not that
it has enemies.
Over years ago France lay PROSTATE at
the feet Of Europe. Napoleons power ended.
The victors could deal as they would with the
defeated nation. At that time Europe feared Re
pubicanism, not monarchsm The Bourbon family
were restored. At the same time the victorious
nations, Prussia alone protesting, refused to exact
indemnities revengeful annexatons from the
people. They argued that the purpose of all the
wars had been to remove the menace of Repub-
licansm; that this has been accomplished when the
royal family placed again the throne, and
that harsh treatment only would lessen their own
victory by weakening the hands of the government
they set up.
The allies might have followed the same ex-
ample in 1919. They had secured in Germany the
abolition of Kaiserdom, which they feared, and the
erection of a democratic constitution, which they
understood. Their object should have been to have
made the path Of the constitution as easy as
might be. Il the sacrifice of that object of
high craftsmanship to the passion of revenge that
has put off the peace of Europe and threatens still
worse things.
At last the victors waking to the true stua-
ton Liberal Paris newspapers calling to the
attention of the people the need of supporting the
German republic even if sensational reduction in
she reparations terms must be made to accomplish
this object The French people, the France of the
peasant and the France of revolutionary ideals, is
reaching this conclusion. There is abundant
evidence that the frenzy Is over. The tide of
revenge has turned. The question is whether or
not it has turned in time.