The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-07-10
Germ many Is
Chief v orry
| OF the World
By DAVID LAwRETCH
tcopyrtght By The 1ntSltgenoar>

Washington. July s.-Gernany Is the
chief worry OF the world Drifting along
from one crisis to another with her
political and economic structure stead
lily weakening there arises again the
spectre OF another Russia. And II Ger
many should go the way OF Russia the
effect on France and Great Britain
would be an infinitely greater shocE
than Europe as a whole could stand.
This IS the appreherSive state ot
mind IN Washington. 5000 miles away
In physical distance. but from an econ
omic viewpoint next door. Every branch
Of the government which touches for
elgn trade or IS dependent upon Euro
pear economics Is afraid OF a collapse
IN Germany, The treasury department
expects 70 fund the allied war debt. In
terest and principal are confidently
counted on 10 help ease Americas taN
burden but while there IS no official re
lationsh!p between German payments O.
war reparations and allied payments on
war debt 10 this country the connection
Is all too obvious 70 officials here to iS-
more.
II Germany should collapse the allies
would promptly ask for a postporemens
Of payments ~ their war debt. They
would contend that she money they had
axnected TO receive from Germany didn't
materlslize and that the crisis In Ger
nany has irterferred with trade and
other sources OF income Of which allied
governments are dependent.
Germany In Bankruptcy
Germany In absolute bankruptcy. Il Is
admitted here. would change tho whole
face Of things in Europe. though 10 De
sure. financial bankruptcy Is feared
much less than political chaos. ~ Ger
many should go into a state o. bank
runtcy and turn TO the allied govern
. m erts for a recelvership the viewpoint
Of the French who have been Insisting
on the letter OF the Versailles treaty.
might be changed. But - Germany falls
into the hands ot the Communists and
conhscatton Of private property begins.
as vas the case IN Russia and an era OF
bolhevtstic terror sets in France will
steel herself against any concession and
will Insist on maintaining I large stand
'nS army 10 protect her own frontier
against the overflow Of communism
across the boundaries.
Some concerted action 70 save the
German republic from disaster IS essen
rial The United States government IS
sympathetic with any move that viii
tend 70 hold the W'rth cabipet or
cabtnat -sRLs 81 rrtlar principles N power
and would surely lend moral support
- any plan Tor a revision or the repair
alton clauses oc the Versailles treaty.
The very announcements os such re-
vision would strengthen the hands ot
the U'irth cah.nA' and give the republic
the rrSt fruits OF It's patience aHA help
n convince the German people that X
.Nev rin their faith II the republic the
ship % state Will 5e stes-ed through the
crisis os today 70 safer seas ot orderly
reconstruction.
want European Leadership
VIA, can he done The Initiative &c
European politics will never re taken
he-e Hints ard informal suggestions
NAV erinate from Washington. hut the
administration ot President Harding be
lseves that leadership IN matters such
a sthess should come from some Euro
peaa nation. Great Britain. which has
as much 20 lose as any power in Europe
through p German catastrophe Is looked
- tor the arst move. FiriTe Minister
Lloyd George struggled vain'y at
Cannes 70 bring world economic cor
Ference which would help Germany 20
her feet The French halSed and over
threw the Brita0i ministry. The
Genoa conference was prohibited from
even discussing rerarations or a r1odif-
cation OF the Versailles treaty. The
situation Is still the same as Il vas
when the Cannes conference adjourned
tho French are opposed 10 concessions
Events alone may change their view
point. The question IS whether the re'rr,
o. asSass!na,iors and the circumstances
which in recent weeks have made Ger
-nany's government totter will make the
French realize the danger ~ further OBJ
structlor. Another conferences may be
tried by Lloyd George with the request
that the United States and other sigma
tories 70 the reparation clauses OF the
Versailles treaty shall attend America
.ould not very we'll refuse. The next
step lies however. with Britain