Evening star., 1922-09-10

not from without. but from
disintegration within. Fires
of social revolution are being
lighted through irksome social and
economic conditions.
The government in Berlin has been
In deadly fear of the invasion by
once-enemy armies to enforce the
treaty of Versailles. but armies OF
German peoples. borne down by priva-
tion and suffering, with IA courage
born in desperation. are declared on
the eve of striking against the re-
gime in Berlin. which has been un-
able to save the internal situation or
prevent the complete collapse OF gen.
eral financial conditions.
These are the advices that are con-
stantly reaching Washington through
diplomatic channels. There exists
we'll defined opinion that unless there
should be some miraculous recovery
of Germany's foreign exchange. un-
less the mark be restored to con-
sderably better level. unless the in
dustrial and financial leaders of Ger
many set in motion processes ue
signed to loosen their own great
hortleS and apply them in rectlflca-
tiuu of generally evil conditions. the
coming winter will see d social reVo-
luton comparable to that of France.
Domestic Conditions IntOlerable.
Domestic conditions in Germany are
becoming intolerable. 1t matters not
where the blame for general collapse
of the mark rests. lnsistent demands
on the part of the French that the
full reparations payments be made
and the constant threat of armed in
terventiou hanging over the head OF
Germany may be responsible, is the
Germans state. but whatever the
cause, the condition faced today by
Germany is an actuality and not theo-
reticaI 1t must be dealt with. The
situation is so dreadful in its pros
poets that the whole of Europe may
he shaken by the results of social
CataclySm.
The issue cannot be lodged. Some
thing must be done to rectify condl-
tions as they exist. The mark has
descended to unheard-of low levers.
A basket full of the paper Will hardly
purchase sufficient provisions for the
family of the ordinary workman.
Then there is no attempt to approach
standards of living before or even
during the war, save among those
who have boarded their wealth. The
aboriug man and the working classes
who compose four-fifths of Germany s
popula ton. are in penury and want
True they are working. but the wages
derived cannot approach the demands
OF ordinary subsistence. To meet the
situation the industrialists of Ger
many, who are in firm control of
economic affairs. but recently in
crea sed the salaries of the workmen
90 per cent. Prices in the meantime
have increased from $50 to 200 per
cent with no immediate signs that
, wages will be increased to meet the
new level of costs. Everywhere the
banks are running short of cash.
Business houses in many instances
have refused to sell at mark quota
tions. dealing in foreign currency. or
they have been forced to increase
their price of goods from hour to
hour as the mark has continued its
downward trend.
Unemployed Growing.
The smaller industrialists in many
sections have reached the end of
their tether. With a valueless mark,
factories have been closing. leaving
hundreds of thousands of people
without work. The absolute inability
IN buy needed stores abroad with
present German currency and then re-
export manufactured goods at prof
table basis is responsible for the
slow demise of industry. The gov
eminent has obtained degree of
financial safety in deferment of the
reparations payments, but there is no
surety that the government, on the
other hand. will be able to lend itself
Constructively to restoration of in
ternal conditions in the few months
the so-called moratorium is to re-
main in existence.
Only the financial interests of Ger
many know which way the country is
drifting and can save the situation.
but ii still remains question in the
minds Of some well-posted authori-
ties whether even the strongest of
German interests can save Germany
from herself.
Governments Situation.
| In recent years. or since the mon
archy was overthrown, the govern
ment has sustained itself against the
spread of bolshevism and against the
inroads and dictations of monarchical
interests through the means of gem
eral strikes, the workingmen of the
nation at large being socialistic in
character. This governmental power
was sustained because of the better
, living conditions and because the
German workingman at no time since
the Kapp revolt has been idle until
comparatively recently. With idle
ness and constantly increasing de-
spair over economic conditions which
,rove more CALLING; with workingmen
IN large measure over the entire ma
zion facing a winter of direst suf-
fering through hunger and want. the
aituatton changes. There are limits
10 human endurance, and upon this
fact is predicated chiefly the predic-
fion that Germany is facing grevious
hours.
Social revolution and possible over