The Washington times., 1922-11-07
HILL TELLS Of
GERMAN RUIN
IN PLAIN SIGHT
Ex-Ambassador Declares U. S.
Can and Should Do Moth
ing to Avert Collapse.
By DAVID JAYNE HILL.
Former United States Ambassador
10 Germany.

10 Germany.
Copyright 1922 by Cosmopolitan News
NEW YORK, Nov. 7.-Germany's
condition Is desperate. She is RAPIDLY
nearing the abyss. Just what is like
ly to happen there in the near future,
or how II may be possible for her 10
extricate herself from the situation
she now occupies, | do not pretend 10
know.
have just returned from four
months visit To Europe. OF course.
in the other countries, more par
ticuuarly in France, where i spent
most OF my time, the German mess Is
one OF the chief topics of conversa-
ton. The suggestion was made by
several persons with whom / discuss
ed the German situation that other
nations might not BE- willing to Join
i'm devising means to stabilize condi-
tions there. ] do not know II such
steps will be taken, but ] do know
one thing, and that is that we should
have no hand in II.
What reason is there for The
United States participating in any
thing OF the kind. We don't owe
any OF them anything. 1t is no af-
fair of ours. Therefore. let US attend
to our own business. and keep from
joining with any OF them in adjusting
differences that may exist between
them. We have plenty TO occupy
ourselves with at home.
Poorer Glasses Suffer.
AS TO the suggestion that ! am told
Chancellor Wirth has made recently.
that Germany declare herself bank
rupt. and wipe out her reparation
and other debts. she might as well
go into bankruptcy. Her money is
worth very little. II is true that IL
is not quite as bad as the Russian
financial situation, where, / under
stand, a man may obtain a very good
meal in Moscow for about l,OOO,OOO
rubles. or somewhat around that
price, hut Germany. notwithstandlng
the practical evidence she has before
her OF the fatuous policy of turning
out paper money that has really no
value, seems determined TO continue
her headlong course, Notwithstanding
the continued downward course OF
the paper mark. The worst part OF
this is that IL is the poorer classes
that are suffering. chiefly. from TINS
form of financial insanity.
There is any amount OF German
gold in eXistence-outside of Ger
many. SHINES and his tribe have
immense sums of gold in banks in
foreign countries chiefly in Switzer-
land and in Holland. They are TAX.
ing very good care that the depres-
sion which exists because OF the
naper money output, with its deprc'
ciated value, does not directly AFFECT
them And so il is. that the lower
classes are those who have been,
who are and who are going to lie
the chief sufferers. For Germany
will probably keep on turning out
this form of money until the flnal
crash comes. Whether this will he
in the form of a revolution or some
thing else. | know not. Nor does
any one else. That is all in the
Ian of :he Gods. There are many
elsewhere than in Germany. as well
as in that country, who are strongly
Of the opinion that the coming win.
ter will bring revolution there.
Would Let Her Fall.
There are some persons in the
United States who believe that by
American participation in plans 10
! put Germany on her feet we would
| benefit thereby in an economic way.
Well. in the first place, Germany
ought TO get on her feet unassisted.
! Ii can be done. But il she cannot get
on her feet alone, then let her fall.
In the second place. ] do not believe
Z that by aiding Germany we would
greatly benefit our export trade. She
can consume all her own produces.
The price 10 America of giving her
/ aid TO restore her to the place she
| seeks to occupy in the worlds trade
would be too great for US to pay. Let
| Hugo SHINES and his associates
! come to the rescue of their own
country before seeking aid from the
outside.
AS TO the suggestion that France
may occupy the Ruhr basin and the
! German forests, IL Germany decides
! to- disavow heT reparation debts. is
| there any reason why n creditor
should not secure what is owing TO
him IL the debtor calmly announces
/ that he has decided to disavow the
obligation?