Evening star., 1924-09-16
GERMANS CREATE
NEW DIFFICULTIES
With Foreign Troubles Al.
Iayed, Nationa|ists Would
Prove They Won War.
BY EDGAR ANsEL MOWER,

BY Radio to The Star and Chicago Daily News.
BERLIN, September 16.-Foreign
troubles being momenthrily allayed.
the Germans seemed determined to
create a few new ones for them
selves. or rather the German Ma
tionalists. These gentlemen are still
under the impression that Germany,
or rather Prussia, won the great war
and that 1T need only express a de-
sire and the world will jump to at
tention.
1t Is possible that no intelligent
people anywhere believe that Ger
many was uniquely responsible for
the war. The fact remains that Ger
many signed the treaty of Versailles,
which declares this unique RESPONSE
bility, and to denounce this clause Is
to denounce the treaty itself. 1t Is
hardly probable that the Germans,
having won a breathing spell, really
wish to assume the consequences of
such an act. Nevertheless, that is
what the Nationalists' insstence on
denunciation of the war guilt con-
fession really means.
Battle of MentaIities.
The wise ones among the Nation
alists understand this, but the rank
and file consists of Prussian farmers,
who are not so wise. Between them
as representing the old mentality
and other groups representing the
new, a bitter battle is being Waged.
The Nationalists won great power in
the last elections. but they would
probably lose much if new elections
were held. Hence their loud insis-
tence can always be calmed by a
threat of cabinet dissolution. Foreign
Minister Stresemann, however. wishes
to smoke the pipe of peace with the
Nationalists and prefers them, over
half of whom voted against the
Dawes plan, to the Social Demo-
Gratis, who upheld it.
The first fundamental question for
Germany is therefore to decide be-
tween the two mentalities, whether
Germany will be ruled by old-time,
Nationalistic aristocrats or by mod
ern labor and business groups who
are capable of working together. This
leads to a second problem, viz, the
Strengthening or gradual tearing
down of the republic. This latter
process has been going strong for the
last six months, but the Republican
elements are showing more fight and
may prove capable, If allied with the
Social Democrats, of maintaining
something of position.
mately connected-that is, which
classes and strata of Germans are to
bear the larger brunt of the repara-
tions. The Nationalists had the prom
Use of a grain tariff. The Industrial
lists intend to maintain wages at the
present level, although prices are
prodigious and have risen slightly
since January. Only industry, they
say. can truly pay reparations. and
Ho oh
ened. and a special industrial commit
tee is studying the whole budget re-
form bill
Labor Points to Taxes.
The Labor people retort by pub
fishing the wage scales. This shows
that city workers receive today as
weekly wage 23l2 marks for un-
skilled workers and 49lA marks for
highly skilled workers, of which the
state in all cases takes nearly lo per
cent as taxes. They note, too, that
the Impoverished German state still
has money to offer the deposed Ho-
family. crown property,
of city buildings. real es-
tate, palaces, villas as well as many
farms and lands. over half million
acres from which the total income is
some thing over a million marks.
The naughty Hohenzollerns have so
far refused this miserable pittance
and have demanded much more.
fourth problem, also dependent on
the others, is how long the Dawes
plan will be Loyalty carried out. The
choice for Germany is therefore of
political leaders, and the choice is
1t means on one side So
cial reaction, a Russian alliance, mil
itsry preparations and monarchy; on
tba other a republic corporation
with the world and advanced condi-
tions for labor.
Copyright 1924 by Chicago Daily News Coz