San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-02
Germany Is Getting. No
Nearer an Understanding
Says Harden.
POINTS OUT THE WAY
Would Stop Passive Rests
lance and Deal Direct
ly With France.
BY MAMMALIAN HARDEN.

Copyright. by The San Antonio Light
Berlin, Sept. 1.-Europe is marking
time. Diplomatic notes, ministerial
speeches, cabinet changes, wrath and
wailing.
Short-sighted people regard all this
as important, but it does not bring us
one step forward, and sensible people
hardly pay any attention any more
because they have learned that these
moves do not possess the vital force
for useful action.
Yet it would not be at all difficult
TO reach at least a provisional under
standing between France and Ger
many. Both countries are tired OF the
struggle in the Ruhr. France, which
is not suffering great material losses,
does not enjoy being compelled to use
brute force against people whom she
herself disarmed. Germany since she
has overthrow the CunO nightmare
has realized her situation somewhat
more clearly but her political nerve
has been rendered obtuse by the sud-
den plunge from prosperity into mis-
cry and it is slowly dying.
Agrees With POincare.
The writer has been recommending
for months the return to the status of
the first day of occupation, January
l, for demilitarization, amnesty, the
return Of exiles and collaboration.
Premier Poincare has said repeatedly
that France demands nothing more
and he would be dishonored If he
broke his word in such a case.
The Ruhr workingmen who have
been enlightened as TO the truth of
the situation, have declared their will
ingness to accept the agreement sug-
gested, but the government still hest
tates about abandoning resistance be-
cause it fears it will be Outlawed as
the cabinet of capitulatiOn" by the
nationalists who control the biggest
and best armed following. France
cannot demand unconditional capitu-
lation. 1t was never shameful to
abandon an understandable position in
order TO save an army with military
honor.
Here is the sole hindrance 10 the
understanding which is being striven
for in Paris and Berlin. An agree
ment can be reached about repara-
lions. They are Of little Importance,
but Germany is bleeding to death in
the Ruhr. A prolongation of resist
ance weakens her ability to negotiate
and enables the nationalists to picture
as the republics sins what are really
the results of the kaiser's day.
The radical socialist who became
minister of finance was eligible for the
ministry when he declared that resist
ance was "a national duty" 1t can
never be a national duty TO lead ones
own nation to ruin in hopeless
struggle. Hopes based OH Englands
help were vain. England has not yet
answered the German note of June z
which she herself reQuested-S3 days
ago.
Taxation Program Ill.adyisad.
The new government is carrying on
the overthrow cabinets taxation pro-
gram which was to bring 100 to $50
millions i'll the treasury. Everybody
knows that these laws were due to
the fear of the street, were framed
in confused haste and adopted by a
parliament that had never studied
them.
Mammoth taxes. monstrous in
crease in rates by railways. posts and
telephones. compulsion to a surrender
TO foreign currency-these threats
alone have driven all prices to the
peak.
Millions Of people in the Ruhr who
cannot do. productive work have been
receiving credits amounting to trl-