Evening star., 1922-12-18
GERMANS ARE HOPEFUL.
By Wireless TO The Star and Chicago Dai
News. Copyright. 1872

BY Wireless TO The Star and Chicago Daily
News. Copyright. 1872.
BERLIN, December 1S.-The drown
ing German people have grasped at
three strawS in the last few days
and many of them now believe that
they are saved. The sudden rise of
the German mark from $500 to the
| dollar to 5000. Premier Foincares S
remuneration of his intention to oc-
cupy the Ruhr district and the pos
sibility of an American and interna-
tional loan of $500. 100000 have sent
the barometer of Germanys feelings
up to optimism" Even those who
were violently opposed to Chancellor
Cuno on the ground that he was
| capitalists" are now shouting.
"Hoch Cuno"
In the Rhineland and the Ruhr in
dustrial district. from which the
writer has just returned. the majority
| of the people are taking a new inter-
est in life and their work. They say
| they are willing to work their heads
! off" if the new year brings. as it
seems to promise, not only big loan
and a moratorium. but a reduction of
the reparationS debt
In addition to relief felt there on
account of the calling off Of the Ruhr
occupation by the French there Is a
i tendency among workers to agree to
| the demands of the government and
the industrialiStS to work nine or ten
hours u day.
See Real Peace.
Throughout Germany the question
asked by almost everybody is lis the
dawn of real peace breaking d last?"
! Most people are inclined to believe
i that it is. Under Secretary of State
| Hamm. Chancellor Cuno's right hand
man in the first interview given out
! since the new cabinet went into
| Office. said today:
1.-THE reports which have reached
us. though most of them are un-
official. sound convincing. We are
| inclined to believe that the United
! States is abandoning her passive
attitude at last and is willing to take
part in Il general action to stabilize
conditions in Europe. Without the
| United States. this cannot possibly be
done. but the minute the United States
desires to help in solving the great
, problems of Europe positive results
may be expected.
The German government" said
Herr Iiamnl. in reply to question.
made no official request for Ameri-
can intervention. In my opinion. the
United States hesitated to extend
financial assistance to Europe or to
cancel the allied debts because she
was afraid that such action would
only strengthen militarism in Europe.
believe that Frances attitude alone
justified that apprehension. GermnaY
is through with militarism, first be-
cause she cannot wage another war,
and. second because she does not
want to. Germany has repeated this
time and again, but many persons. IN
cluding newspaper writer's and h1gh
officials abroad, still believe the
legend that Germany is just waiting
for a chance to start war of re-
venge with the assistance OF Russia.
with which she is alleged to be allied
through a secret military treaty.
Calls War Impossible.
THAT is all humbug. 1t Is true. of
course. that In certain monarchist cir
cles in Germany there is propaganda
for war of revenge, but as such
war is a physical lmposslbility, 1t Is
obvious that this agitation is being
carried on merely for international po-
litical purposes
/ The Industrial group, headed by
Hugo SHINES. is by no means optimis
tic. 1t is rather disappointed because
of Frances failure to occupy the Ruhr
ment in the rate of exchange for Ger
man money. In Essen and Cologne 1t
was said only few days ago. that
SHINES. Thyssen. Kloeckner and other
steel. iron and coal magnates were
looking forward to Premier Polncare's
carrying out his threat, as this would
promote their working together with
the great French industrialists. and
they would get French francs and not
German marks for large part of their
products. The developments of the
last few days have disappointed them
sorely. and II the international loan
and reduction of reparations should
materialize. the Cuno cabinet should
score heavily against SHINES and his
colleagues.