The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-02-04
Hopeful Signs.


Il rope, and, therefore. for the world, have not
been lacking recently. The dramatic resigna-
ton of NJ. BRAND and the advent of miIitaristic NJ.
Poincsre caused many dire forebodings and con-
siderable alarm. Many thought the progress to-
ward European reconstruction had been very badly
set back, that the restoration of Europe had been
damagingy delayed. But the trend of events,
world-tendencies, the pressure of opinion of many
nations, are stronger than M. Poincare any
other statesman Readers of The Herald will re-
member that offered the view that the startling
resignation of NJ. BRAND would not be such cal
smity might be supposed. We stated that it
might shock France into more reasonable attitude.
We suggested that NJ Poincare would take one of
two courses; an unyielding course which would
fail and get him and France nowhere
approximately like his predecessors. We thought
it likely he would take the latter.
Now it appears that French opinion has been
changing rapidly in the last two weeks. 1t has
bee shocked into more moderate course NJ.
BriaLd's resignation contributed to this. The ex-
preston of British opinion also contributed. The
expression of American opinion also contributed,
especially the pronouncements of the Inter-Ameri-
can High Commission to the effect that the repara-
tons must be revised on more practical basis,
standing armies cut and budgets balanced. France
has become of the unfavorsbe reaction to her
unyielding views in the nations which have been
her allies and her truest friends and which wish to
remain SUCH And France has begun to realize
the possibility and the tremendous undesrabiity of
isola.ic-
We are now assured that the negotiations look
ing toward an Anglo-French defensive alliance
proceeding with a much moderate attitude
the part of France. Poncare finds, sug-
gested heretofore, that he do more and get
no more than BRAND. We are told that the French
l. -.
needs that they are beginning to see the futility
of deeper invasions.
If France is showing more promising attitude,
II may be said that Germany is also. And such an
attitude on the part of Germany has been highly
desirable Germanys failure to balance her budget,
he: wretched government finances while the finances
of private business men, particularly big industrial
lists were marvcllously good; indicated lack of
good faith on the part of Germany. The German
government continually saved from bankruptcy
only by printing more paper money while German
individuals piled up big profits, and it was we'll
known that this was a condition which could be
remedied by law. Now, the German government,
as disclosed by the recent speech of Chancellor
-Wrth il the Reichstag and the note sent to the
reparations commission, large increases in
taxes including an increased property tax taxes on
capital and on corporations, increase of the
turnover tax from I-2 to per cent, increase
of til: coal tax from 20 to 40 per cent. Customs
dues are be collected on gold basis. promise
is given to prevent the removal of capital abroad
and to prevent the evasion OF taxation. The food
subsidy is to be decreased from 2,25oooo,ooo paper
marks in 1921 to 100000 in 1922. Unemploy
ment doles are to be abandoned in favor of I'M
employment insurance paid for by employer and
employe. These measures expected to more
then lance the ordinary budget In addition to
this-a-d most important-it has been decided to
c lect a compulsory loan of I,oooooo,ooo gold
marks here will also be another internal loan
4 -ermany goes through with this program
viii the Wirth government has set out, she will
be given more, credit for good faith especially if
she collects the compulsory loan of Ioooooo,ooo
gold marks promptly. That compulsory loan will
be something of test for if it is collected it will
-Ilrsn tnat Germany is really making an attempt to
gather where it is possible to gather and is not
mercy complaining
- The withdrawal of support from the Wirth gov
eminent by Herr Stinness German Peoples party
threatens the success of the program DIR. Wrth
has announced. But one must not suddenly con-
clude that the program is not to be carried out
This may prove to be valuable test of strength
If the Wirth government comes through the test
VIGOROUSLY its position will be strengthened rather
than weakened by Stinnes's detection.
A reasonable attitude the part of France and
a sincere attempt on the part of Germany to meet
her just obligations two of the needed factors
in European rehabilitation Recent Developments in
both those matters are hopeful If this tendency
continues it will improve the prospects of the
Genoa conference.