Evening star., 1923-11-06

While the big five" continue the
discussion Of the renewal of the Brit
ish- American suggestion of an ex-
pert fixing of Germany's capacity to
pay, the question Of whether the
present German republic will survive
the developments in Saxony, the
Rhineland and Bavaria present a sub
feet of intense interest to the United
States. The fact that both France
and Belgium backed up the separation
movement. naturally has resulted in
some criticism, especially in view OF
the declaration by Earl Curzon that
Britain would not consent to dis
memberment of the German nation.
1t was, of course. to be expected"
that France would announce policy
of neutrality, the Baltimore Sun says,
but this will continue only Just as
long as no active effort is MADE py
Germans to sweep away this Jerry
built political structure. 1t Is the
story of Napoleon's ill-fated King.
dom of Westphalia all over again.
1t must, however, be remembered tnat
the Rhineland people have 1eit tnat
their rights, their welfare ana their
safety were regarded with little con-
sequence by the government In Ber-
lin" the Richmond News-Leader
points out, but ut is premature as
vet to say what the 1uture nolos
there" In any event, as the New
York Times points out, the Rnineiano
separatists, should they so desire, can
~set nm q government within the
reich" and this may solve the
problem.
The Newark Evening News agrees
that a. dismembered Germany can
not pay reparations." and France
owes now more than she can pay, be-
cause the interest on her debts Is IN
creasing more rapidly than her pos
sible revenue. This Is a cold. cruel
fact, but 1t is the truth and she
knows it. She cannot pay her part
of the war and pay for the recon
struction of the devastations Ger
many caused To which the lndlan-
apolis News replies that, looking on
with history as background, ger ger
many's economic illness Will be seen
to be superficial. as far as the natlon
as a whole is concerned. 1t Is not
organically impaired. It's capaclty
| to pay however, as the Lincoln state
/ journal sees it, rests on a united ma ma
tion. and "if Poincare fostered the
( Rhine republic it means that repara-
tions are secondary consideration
! with the French while the Savan-
nah Press points out that the con
dition of Germany is bad enough,
! her own people Until the con-
! spiracy of these people is overtaken
1 and remedied the recommendations
Of a so-called reparations commission
would amount to nothing.
I a,,, az will he successful tomorrow
the Utica Observer-Dispatch points
out. .aThere are many reasons why
the republic should fail. 1t has been
| a most inefficient government from
| morally. Nothing like it has ever
been known In the history of the
world. Rather than pay a war debt
| for which they alone were respon-
sible, and which all the wealth OF the
world could never really satisfy
rocks and wrecked beyond repair
Seams are ripping in the matchless
garment pieced together under the
leadership Of Bismarck. Another OF
those great national upheavals Is
opinion, however, is contested by the
| brooklyn Eagle, which feels both
| in the Rhineland and Palatine the
popula tion is German to the core and
opposed to separation.
! "If the agitators succeed 1t Will be
| only because of the constant help
they are receiving from the French
| army" But all 'the manifestations of
| disunion have been produced by the
/ Germans themselves, the Philadei. .
! phia North American insists, and IF
| the German republic really should
| break up 1t with be because. the in
habitants lacked the courage honestly
| to meet their obligations and the
, ability tc maintain free. united