New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-10
Young Germans Could Not
BE Restrained From TAX
ing Up Arms, Asserts Ex-
Chancellor in New York
Urges u. S. to Take Hand
Statesman, on Way Home
From Orient, Says America
Must Help Check French


France and Germany, Dr.. George
Michaelis, former Imperial German
Chancellor, said in an interview here
Yesterday. Should France make n mill
tery move into Germany, DR.. Michaelis
said, nothing could restrain the
younger generation of Germans from
an effort to resist the invasion by
force of arms. Such war would be
futile, Dr.. Michaelis admitted. bu, it
would cost many lives and still further
compi,cate Europe's grave economical
problems.
This the former Chancellor does no.
consider to be an immediate proba
bIllty, because he clings to a belief
that the United States and Great
Britain would act in unison to pre-
vent any action on the part of France
against Germany. He is still hopeful
that this country will lend moral and
practical support to the German peo-
pies, and he intmates that without
American support Europe cannot, ex-
ccpt in very long time, recover her
economic balance
Japan Troubled. He Found
DR.. Michaelis also expressed grave
fears for the future of Japan, which
country he recently visited. There, he
said, postwar problems arising from
production and lack of markets,
was creating labor problem which
might have extremely serious results
On the subject of the reparations,
DR.. Michaelis sustains The accepted
German position.
Eve cannot possibly pay" he said
Until the Treaty of Versailles is al
tered there is no chance for real peace
in Europe"
DR.. Mjchaelis is in New York on his
way back from the Orient. AS presi-
dent of the German Christian Stu
dents Union, an organization with
which he has been actively connected
for many years, he visited an interna-
tional conference held in China Of
representatives of the Y. M. C. A. and
similar organizations. He is staying
at Hotel Aston for a week. sailing for
Germany on the 18th.
Depressed by Recent News
DR.. Michaelis explained that he had
been away from Germany TO- six
months and had not been in close con-
tact with affairs there during his alb
sence. Recently he said she had been
much depressed by news from Germany
and had felt that another attempt to
overthrow the government by force Of
arms was inevitable.
The proposals made on Saturday for
on the reparations payments, he said,
perhaps been found. The French, he
thought, would agree to the mora
torium proposals. because it would be
made plain to them chat without h;s
step Germany would become national
bankrupt and involve France in her
dr. wnfal.
"P.aily, we cannot pay" Dr.. Mi
chaelis said II feel qualified to speak
with some authority Before / was
made Chancellor was for seven years
an Under Secretary of State, and
afterward I was food controller.
know what Germany's resources really
are, and I know that it is truly impos
sib]e for Germany to pay either in
money or goods the enormous sums
demanded Of her by the Treaty of Yer
sailles.
Sees Bankruptcy as Certain
"If the treaty is not changed it be-
impossible for Germany to go
on She becomes a bankrupt Indeed,
it can hardly be otherwise, since every
payment lowers the mark,
and the low mark has made living in
Germany q costly burden. Since I left
my home in February my representa-
tives have written me the cost Of main
tanning my household has advanced to
three times what it was in the begin
ming Of the year"
DR.. Michaelis referred to state
ment made by Sir George Paish, the
English economic expert, which was
printed here yesterday, in which the
overstepping the bounds OF discretion
in insisting on German payment in full
of the provisions of the Versailles
Treaty.
at would really appear the former
Chancellor said, that France is pos
sessed of such a hatred against Ger
many that her leaders are unable to
observe even the most obvious truth.
If Germany becomes bankrupt ma
ton, surely no nation will suffer more
greatly than France Great Britain
will suffer, too, and so will your
United States, in a lesser degree, but
the greatest sufferer of all will, be-
yond all question, be France Running
Germany France would involve her
self in the disaster N
Says America Must Help
America must help to persuade
France that the treaty must be modi-
fled. Americas moral influence in
Europe is very great. and really think
she should exert it. The question is
not only an altruistc one, however
America is the great creditor of ali the
nations which would be most severely
affected should Germany be forced
into bankruptcy America would suf-
ut is necessary" DR.. Michaels con-
tinued, chat there now should be held
a great conference of all the nations;
the first real conference, with every
nation represented and represented by
a really great man, who has authority.
Former conferences have been futile
because they have really not been
conferences at all II some subject
came up which was perhaps little deli
cate, the representative of France
would say, i have no Instructions;
and then he would leave the conference
and go home. That is no conference OF
really representative statesmen.
ut is most important, too, that at
such conference all nations should
be represented, including America, and
all should be equal There have been
other conferences. where the repre-
sentatives of the German government
were given seats outside the doors, and