San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-13
By MAMMALIAN HARDEN.

Copyright. 1924. by Consol Press Assn,
Berlin, April 12.-Many Germans
had hoped that the experts decision
would act like Portals decision in
granting Shylock his pound of flesh,
but no blood. They forget that even
the most clever experts are not ma
gicians. r.
The writer's old wish-that the
whole reparations problem be sub
mitted to unprecedented business men,
who should make a decision quite un-
hampered by the peace treaty--is IL
nally fulfilled, only partially. The
best practical men were chosen. but
were obligated to make economic ne
cessities to fit in with existing treaties
when making their solution OF the
problem. Choosing Of this way, against
which commercial reason and common
sense could have equally shared. ere
ated the most difficult impediment
conceivable. That following publica-
ton of the report it's shortcomings
and hardships are at first emphasized
everywhere, proves nothing; in every
Oriental bazaar the buyer tries, to de-
preciate the value Of the merchandise
he desires and the invalid seldom
praises the taste of the medicine he
must swallow.
Owe Experts Thanks.
The world owes thanks 10 the in
telligent. honest and financially ex-
perienced men who unselfishly gave a
quarter of n year of their valuable
time to finding q practicable solution.
The burdens placed on Germany
which include surrender OF sover-
eighty in many respects are fearfully
heavy. Perhaps they could have been
less heavy if the Berlin government,
which in December, 1922, declared it.
self unable to make any payments OF
money or wares. had not Immediately
thereafter been able, to finance the
Ruhr resistance and an eight months
general strike of huge proportions e
pay for great quantities OF coal and
4 metals with foreign currency anC
nevertheless to stabilize German cur
rency without difficulty.
Through all this the government
aroused suspicion that its woeful erie
were not justified and that German
could pay more than it had declare
it was able to pay. While the expert
were studying the economic state an
statistics, they heard how many thou
sand Germans were travelling in tn
Riviera. Italy, Greece and Egypt
what sums were paid out in this con
quered, debt-burdened land for Englis
fabrics. French costumes, perfume.
hats. caviar. truffles. pineapplcs, ba
nanas and oranges. for imported lux
urics of all description: that in on
month southern fruits worth $4,000.
600 gold marks were imported; tina
all places of amusement were full an,
that large and small capitalists wer
losing gigantic sums through their be
lief that the French franc would con
tinue to fall.
Could Have Been Settled.
Men around General Dawes an,
Owen Young may have thought tha
money spent for the Ruhr. for spec,i
lation on the franc. and lost through
the consequent drop in the stock mar
ket would have been enough to pa.
reparations for years to come, an
that the sturdy back of the natio,
which presented such a spectacle II
the sixth postwar year would bea
the heaviest burdens. This suppositloi
can turn out to be false. but it is Ger
tain that the reparations question:
would have been answered long ago j
Germany had voluntarily offerei
three-quarters as much as the expert
now propose.
The best thing about the experts
report is that it desires TO restore Ger
many's right to free disposal Of tn
occupied districts. The worst thing i
that it comes during an election cam
paign m which victories won in Sax
ony. Mecklenburg and Bavaria by tn
widest nationalists, are dangerous ad
v&nce signs.
The seriousness Of the hour. com
pels Germans to make the fateful dc
cision whether they will let them
selves to intoxicated by the national
lists revenge speeches or will try L
bring health TO their old continent b.
swallowing the bitter dose.
The humor in the whole situation
comes in the experts decision: All o
nothing. This warning against accept
ing the pleasant and rejecting the un
pleasant; against plucking out tn
raisins from the cake and leaving tn