The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-08-29
BY EDWARD W. X A

- ERAIANY is virtually in the hands
" of a dictator at last. Chancellor
Stresemann, disguised with the cOndl-
kiOn into which his country has de-
generated and with the everlasting po-
litical ~squabbles of the factions in the
~reichstag. has taken matters into his
own hands and determined to carry out
ais measures without consulting the
reichstag and without regard to whom
they hit. He says he believes he can
restore financial and economic order
within four weeks, and that if he fails
there is no hope for Germany and all
is lost.
From a quiet and conservative man
Herr Stresemann has become suddenly
a leader much like MussOlini. of swift
and determined action and ready to
20 to any length. Laying his plans
before his cabinet, he received its
promise of unqualified support, and
the leaders of the parties in the reichs-
tag also agreed to permit him to carry
on his measures without interference.
Thereupon he announced that, first, he
must have about $1OO.O0O,OOO of the
huge sums which the industrial mag
mates have accumulated and hidden in
foreign banks. This he expected as a
voluntary contribution" but said Il
necessary he would cOnfscate between
4 fourth and a third of all foreign
moneys held by them. Everyone was
to he required to state under oath his
holdings Of foreign currency and those
who falsified the returns would be Sc
yerely punished. He is prepared to
follow this order with another cOnfis-
eating One-fourth to one-third of al
private property in Germany. Accord
ing to President Ebert, these DEGREES
will scarcely affect The working anC
middle classes. as the utter collapse o.
he mark has practically wiped OF.
private ownership by them. The up
per classes, including the industrial
nagnates, will have to do the paying
and it is presumed the latter. at least
will not dare TO resist.
For the present S~tTesemann's chic
concern is the internal welfare of Ger
many. and the first money he obtain
will be used for the purchase and i'm
pOrtation of fats and other foOdstuff
that the country lacks. Afterward h
hopes to collect funds for reparation
payments and for restoring financis
and economic stability. The preser
situation is highly pleasing to the Con
munists. who are looking for a re;
revolution next October or Novembe
when they will proclaim a Red regim
Their hopes are bOlStered by the tr
mendOus increase in prices and ii
shortage of food, the lack of coal fl
the winter and the great increase
unemployment. German coal is selliI
for S25 a ton. though English coal ca
be had for S12.
The mOnarchists also. especial
those of Bavaria. are getting reaC
10 try to set up a military d~ictatOrshi
Herr Stresemann went to Bavaria
the end of the week to study the sit
alton there. though he was warnl
that lbs life would he in danger on t
trim. INDEED. one need moi be surpris
20 read ANY dry thar the chancell
has l't@n aSSaSS.nated. II is said
attempt to kill him in his Berlin re
dence was frustrated a few days a
ami that the assassinS were membe
of the same mOnarchistic organizati
that killed Erzherger and Rathenau
A s LUMINOUS as the skies
"A France and as hard as l.
Taine steel" is the way the Paris Mai
cItaracterizes the reply of PremI
Poincare to Lord Curzon's recent no
The answer was handed to the Brit