Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-27
COX URGES ACTION
BY j. s. To AVERT
EUROPEAN COLLAPSE
All Is Lost in Germany Unless
America Intervenes,
Says Wirth.

London, Aug. 26.-James M. Cox,
former democratic candidate for presi-
dent, was the guest of Prime Minister
Lloyd George at breakfast Saturday.
Friday night Mr.. Cox dined with
Colonel L. NJ. House, who is visiting
here.
Before going to the premier's resi-
dence in Downing street, this morning,
Mr.. Cox gave out a statement to the
American and British press dealing
with the economic plight of Europe and
quoting the German chancellor, DR..
Wirth, as saying to him a few days ago
in Berlin:
Unless the United States interests
her self in European affairs within a
very short time, all in Germany is lost
and all in central Europe as we'll"
MIR. Cox's statement concludes with
the assertion that the fate of the world
is in the hands of America and urges
quick action by the United States to
bring about the rehabilitation of
Europe.
Mr.. Cox's statement, in part, said:
THE storm center of the economic
world is central Europe. Those who
have visited Austria and Germany are
of one opinion as to the state of things
now and the tragic point to which both
countries are drifting. Austria has
reached a stage of almost complete dis
solution. The approach of Germany to
the same condition is steadily marked
by every passing hour.
Nations In Deadlock
THE nations of Europe are dead
locked on the PREPARATIONS question.
There seems to be no relief on this side
of the Atlantic. The master key is
held by the United States. No deci-
sion by England seems likely to be ac-
copied by the French. The French
government will not sanction a pro-
posal from Germany which might ap-
proximate a readjustment of figures
/. now in the minds of French statesmen,
because that circumstance might be re-
garded by the public opinion of France
as a surrender to Germany.
'"There is no respite. and every hour
La fraught with danger. 1t is well to
summarize the contentious of both
France and Germany:
"Since the end of the war France
has sold approximately 100000
worth of bonds to her own people on
the reparations by which she would
have been reimbursed by Germany in
compliance with the terms of the peace
treaty. Germany says she lost a
fourth of her grain lands and alto
gether one-tenth of her territory. She
issued about 500, OOO,O 900 worth of
bonds during the war and a deficit
of $4,000 900 as a floating debt. The
fiscal state of both countries without
economic sterilization portends but
one result.
I'm the midst of this situation two
false impressions obtain in Europe:
First, that France is aggressively mill
tary and second that Germany is
making munitions and preparing for
war. The military party of France
is based upon the desire to protect
herself against invasion. With assur-
ances on this point she will reduce
her army.
Germany Wants Peace
The government of Germany de-
sires peace. The leaders are pro-
excessively democratic and the story of
hidden arms, with the exception of
unimportant sporadic army advances,
is pure fiction. Germany has 90
100000 more people than she can sus-
tain except under high industrials.
When the mark was 100 to 200 to
the dollar there were certain trade
advantages accruing to Germany, but
III INT III tStbI lhN pih
of Germany cannot finance the indus
tries of that country in the purchase
of raw products and foodstuffs.
UNLESS relief is granted shops will
soon be closed. millions will be out of
employment and the winter will bring
the threat, if not the certainty, of
starvation.
with economic collapse the GOV
eminent will go down, too. If Ger
many fails. France is without REIN
bursement, and cannot sustain the loss
involved with serious consequences.
within the last week ! had a long
interview with Chancellor Wirth in
Berlin. He summarized the situation
by saying with deepest emotion:
Unless the United States in
terests herself in European affairs
within a very short time, all in Gee
many is lost and all in central Europe
as well.
Recognizing that this statement
broke the letters of diplomatic usage
in France, authority to repeat it in
Chancellor Wirth's name to the people
of the United States is given without
reservation