The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-27
BIG BUSINESS AND WAR


 It has been a popular belief that big business and certain lines of in- dustry have been the secret instiga- tors of war for the sake of the profit. Indeed, belief in this theory has laid the basis for political parties in some countries. Thus it is with some sur prise that one receives the remark of Fritz Thyssen that there would have been no war if man of his own group of industrial leaders had been German ambassador to the court of St. James in 1914. Yet Thyssen is an iron and steel manufacturer and one of those whom war is popularly supposed to prosper. In Germany's case, the rich manufacturers have suffered losses beyond computation as result of defeat and reconstruction policies. Had the Germans won the war, to be sure, the industrial effect on Ger many would have been different.
 If the war was brought on by those who hoped to get rich out of 1t, where is their influence during this costly period of slow reconstruction? Instead of magnates, it looks very much as if politicians were in control of Europe. If politics has guided the allied course since the war, who can say that politics has not dominated Germany also? Good business would have counseled the redemption of the Ruhr long ago by payment of separations. More than that, good business would have met the French demands as the alternative to occupation in the first place. Un- doubtedly, and on the face of it, Ger many's big business did not have the deciding voice, or else has lost that intelligent shrewdness with which it was formerly credited.
 It is recalled in this connection that the committee of bankers and eco- ronic experts employed by the repa- rations commission declared that the situation could be remedied if politics were eliminated and the entire situa- tion as regards industries, trade and finance handled in accordance with the best judgment of those fitted by training and experience to administer affairs in business way. The report of the experts may have overlooked some of the cherished political as- poets, but the politicians lost a grand opportunity to win glory through others wisdom. The diplomats had only to say to the experts: "Lay out a plan whereby Germany can pay, and nominate some agency through which this may be accomplished" If the experts had succeeded, the politi- clans could have taken the credit; if they had failed, the politicians could have blamed the experts for such failure.
 That Germany is ruled by politi- clans in her present emergency is proved by her recent nonsensical de- cision to repudiate the treaty of Yer sailles on the ground that France vio- lated that treaty by occupying the Ruhr. Don't they see that Frances next logical step would be to annex the Ruhr and to proceed to reorganize its productive agencies? But Herr Thyssen and other men of affairs, had their view been sane, would un- doubtedly have perceived that Ger many could afford to pay half a dozen reparations, rather than lose so val uable property. In this connection, the recent refusal of the Hugo Stinnes group to accept the allied proposal, of the delivery of twenty per cent. of Ruhr coal production on the repara- tions account, may be due to lack of confidence in their own governments ability or intention to reimburse them, rather than a decision that the pro- posal itself was unfair.