The New York herald., 1922-07-09
Philip Gibbs Finds
Two Opposing Ideas
Menace TO Germany

ing. difference between England and
Frarce they suggested, without stat
ing it plainly. that If only the German
people were to bide their time and re-
new their allegiance TO the old mill
tary ideals, trust their former leaders.
like Ludendorff and Hindenburg. the
whole weight and burden of defeat
could be overthrown and victory Sc
cured over France and all other enc
mics.
1t was an easy game to play on
minds of German structure, exasper-
ated by French severity. convinced
that the Versailles treaty is impossible
of fulfillment without absolute ruin.
with unhealed wounds to their former
pride. with secret faith in their own
supremacy and genius among Euro
pean peoples, with rage as well as
terror in their hearts because of the
falling mark and their approach to
bankruptcy despite their enormous in
dustry and almost superhuman ef-
forts to recapture their world trade.
Germans Heavily Taxed.
1t is marvel to me- not that Ger
many should be pulled toward reaction
but that so strong an element among
the German people should show un-
mistakably that they will fight to the
death against renewal of militarism,
bark back to old traditions of kaiser
ism and junkerdom. The idea, very
firmly believed in England, that the
German people are lightly taxed is
entirely false.
The German workingman has one
immeasurable advantage over the
British workneman. He has to work.
There is practically no unemployment
in Germany. But he pays 10 per cent.
of his wages to the State. and they
are not mangnihcent. In spite of get
ting nearly twenty times his pre-war
salary in marks he is far worse off
now than then, owing to the rise OF
prices and the fall of the purchasing
power of the mark. The smaller mid
die class folk are severely taxed, the
professional classes have hard times
to make both ends meet, some of them
are in dire need. The only people who
are doing we'll and escaping obligations
are the financial gamblers and old
junker crowd. There is therefore a
SeneTdl sense Oh DllleTneSS anu ca
asperation with present conditions,
and there is no man or woman in
Germany, as far as l know, who does
not believe it is impossible to assume
great burdens of debt to meet the full
demands of the allies without breaking
under the strain.
Holds Indemnity Impossible.
have never disguised my belief.
based on careful economic inquiries,
that it is actually impossible for Ger
many to pay according to the full
penalties imposed by the Versailles
| Treaty. Great Britain. victorious in
war, richer than Germany. would un-
doubtedly fall into ruin if faced with
| the costs OF the war incurred by all
| the combatant nations. 1t is self
evident therefore that the present
basis of German reparations is an
economic fallacy. Our insistence upon
those payments plays into the hands
of the German reactionaries. weakens
the moderate leaders like Wirth. 1
cordially agree with Lord Grey. who
! in recent speech in the House of
Lords said the Allied Powers and the
United States must together take
action to modify the form and figure
of German reparations, and who stated
plainly that there is no hope of prog
ress in Europe until that is done.
/ also sympathize good deal with
German labor. which appeals to the
| workingmen in other countries 20
press their Governments for a more
| friendly treatment TO Germany in or
der to strengthen the Republican and
anti militarist forces in that nation.
/ The worst thing that could happen 10
Europe would be the victory of reac-
ton in Germany after anarchy and
civil war. That would inevitably lead
to another great European war. with
Germany and Russia in alliance
twenty years hence.
If we revise the reparations to rea-
sonable limits, admit Germany to the
League of Nations. inspire an eco
nomic arrangement between Germany
| and France by which the French
| devastated regions may be repaired
by German labor and material. I be-
lieve the German democracy would up
hold Republican ideals and give q
death blow to militarism.
Outbursts of popular passion
against the murder of Rathenau seem
TO prove that the German people are
not spellbound. by junker propa ganda.
But liberal opinion must not be dis
couraged by being forced to support
burdens beyond the. nations power
to endure. What limit that burden is
| do not know. but the bankers con-
ference in Paris possessed the facts.
For Europe's sake the German democ-
racy must be helped to extirpate the
bad old men of Junkerdom.
I Copyright. 1922 by the Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.