Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-09-04
WHATS The Matter WITH EUROPE"
SUBJECT Of CUR TAIN lecture AT
REDPATH CHAUTAUQUA MONDAY

mans have paid out in reparations
since the World War.
They have real American money
there, and we have a bunch of
worthless souvenirs" declared the
speaker.
He said that although people
think that the Germans have not
been able to save in the last few
years, because they have had no
chance. people would be surprised
to know really how they do manage
to save to some extent.
1.-The German may have a certain
amount of marks" said Mr.. Curtain,
''and what does he do? He eX-
changes them for one good Ameri-
can dollar and instead of placing
that dollar in the bank where it will
be turned back into marks, and de-
preciate in value, he puts it into a
hide, for that dollar Is always good.
Then as he gets more of his coun-
trys money he keeps doing the same
thing, always saving American or
English money"
He further declared that Ger
many's wealth in factories is much
greater than it was four years ago,
due to work, which Germans have
to do. Then the speaker went into
detail explaining how these people
manage to get in and out of their
country with currency, by soliciting
the help OF American people there.
or by investing in outside property
through sharp illegal advisors"
There has been a big change of
attitude in Germany in the last few
years." said the speaker. I'VE used
to hear a great deal about these peo-
pie loving their laws SO well, and
never thinking of doing things
against their national rules. This
attitude has changed however. now.
and the feeling of the average Ger
man towards law is about the same
as the American bootleGger's atti-
tude toward the 18th amendment"
He then spoke of the war spirit
which still prevails in that country,
and how the people would like to
even up with Fran because they
believe that she has imposed upon
them, but said that they knew we'll
that it was impossible to attempt re-
venge as at the present time they
were too weak.
War cannot be carried on in
Europe without machinery, and Ger
many cannot get machinery enough
10 1Snt, SdlU MT. SuI TAIN, III GA
planning why they We're helpless.
He likened Germany's attitude to-
ward paying reparations, to himself
if he should come to high mountain,
and found that his welfare as well
as his country's future lay on the
other side. He said that there would
be no means of getting to the OPP
posite side unless he climbed the
slope and took chances of meeting
his death. Then as he examined
every barrier carefully he said he
would see a loophole where he might
crawl through and thus gain short
er way to his goal, and although
knowing that it was not right TO
take that short cut he would say to
himself that in view of the fact that
he had to make a living it must be
done In further explanation MIR.
Curtain declared that the mountain
was Germany's debt, and the man
below was an ordinary citizen of that
country. who regarded his own liv-
ing higher than national honor. he
said that the loophole represented
any way thai the Germans might see
of avoiding payment of their huge
debt.
The speaker then told of the feel
ing in France. He spoke of French
girl who had lost her father and four
brothers in the late war. and said
that she had not been in Germany
since the war and never & attended TO