Evening star., 1923-03-25
HARDEN ASSA|LS
BERLIN MISTAKES
PubIiciSt Declares Nation
Faces Ruin, But Veil Is
Kept Drawn.
By MACMILLAN HARDEN,
Germany's Foremost Liberal Jour-
nalist.

Germany's Foremost Liberal Jour-
nalist.
BY Cable Dispatch to The star
BERLIN, March 24.-Germany faces
ruin because of the mistakes being
made in Berlin. Yet nobody dares say
this because it would be accepted as
a breach of unity" and he who ut
tered the truth would be visited with
death
The same propaganda which ruined
| the country in 1917 and 1918 is being
used. Then it was declared that the
Ger an people were angels, their op-
ponelts legions Of devils and that a
united front would spell ultimate
victory.
While German delegates were ne
eotiating for armistice terms great
posters throughout the country pro-
the western front" Now it is supposed
/ that republican democracy has re-
placed Imperialism. but the same
Hergt, who prophesied that PERISH
lngs troops never could cross the
Atlantic because of the submarine
barrier. is the leader today who is
closest to Cuno's cabinet.
Situation Today Worse.
People who do not learn the
facts facing them because they are
told they are unfavorable to the gov
ernment and a democracy remain in
an autocracy. If Germany loses the
Ruhr fight she will be obliged to
make the same terms which were hers
before the quarrel, but the old official
imperial spirit remains in control and
Is treading the same evil road which
Ludendorff passed over.
In fact the situation today is worse
Despite the fact that the note issues
this year have been SO enormous,
the budget shows a deficit OF more
| than seven billion marks. But nobody
knows what the occupation of the
Ruhr, with the difficulties to industry
! through the compulsory closing down
or public service corporations and the
purchase of foreign coal will total.
Merchants are hit in their most vital
spot, but still are obliged to pay
thelr workers according to the index
| nsures, even though, as is the case
IN many instances. they only labor
thirty hours weekly.
Cannot Uphold Mark.
The government has tried 10 hold up
the value of the mark. but tn has been
been Impossible because OF the fact that
! one hundred billions in notes Is print
ed daily makes stabilization out of
the question. Prohibition of loans on
foreign currency has crippled many
merchants who have had to deliver
dollars they held as security for
wages ana working capital. Mean
while the artificial rise OF the mark
has driven German prices up and still
further complicated the outlook.
This naturally has had its effect on
the internal gold loan which the gov
ernment has been endeavoring to
have come mostly from the great in
dustrial interests. The public holds
aloof because OF the great uncer-
tainty that the terms of the loan.
1926, will be met. The general public
has SO much repudiated paper
promises TO pay on its hands from
previous governments that II Is shy
at assuming other obligations of an
uncertain character.
Few Wish to Invest.
One hears that some of the great
| customers ready to invest. The hope
! that the people of the United States
would step into the breach and ac-
cept from seven to eight billion dol
| lars worth of the latest securities
has proved fallacious.
AS last resort the government
now is publishing new reparations
plan based on the mortgaging of the
railways and the agricultural in
dustry and the offering Of guaran-
tees against future German attacks
by the naturalization of certain zones
Should France refuse this latest Of
fer it is believed here she will place
| herself in wrongful position before
the entire world. The German people
viii indorse the government In this
latest plan if 1t is in earnest in sug-
gesting II. Meanwhile on this Palm
Sunday. anniversary of the triumphal
entry into Jerusalem, there is af-
forded splendid opportunity for
the nations to take an inventory of
their souls.
Copyright. 1927