Evening star., 1925-10-12
GERMAN UPHEAVAL
FEARED BY W|RTH
Continued Occupation Breed
ing Hate of Allies, Former
Chancellor Says.

That the very existence of the young
German republic is involved in the
security pact negotiations now IN
progress at Iocarno is the view OF DIR.
Josef Wirth, former chancellor or
Germany. Before leaving the Inter
parliamentary Union meeting Ill
Washington. DIR. Wirth gave this
writer an uncommonly frank dag
nosis of the existing situation in Ger
many Wirth declares, in so many
words, that if the RhSneland continues
10 be occupied indefinitely by France,
Belgium and Great Britain, National
ist sentiment may be aroused to such
Il point that the republic will be over
thrown and military reaction en-
throned in its place.
That is the real state Of affairs in
Germany at this hour said DIR.
Wirth, who describes himself as a
dyed,in-the-wool Republican and who
did his utmost last Spring TO prevent
tho election Of Field Marshal Won
FIndcnburg to the presidency. My
political associates of the CcntriSt
Roman Catholic) party" DR. Wirth
continued. believe the republic is
safe so far as President Hindenburg
himself is concerned. He took the
oath to the constitution.
"He is an old soldier and he will
honor his oath. OF that few of us
have any doubt. But Loyalty rs
Tindenburg may comport himself,
conditions may ensue Of a nature en-
tirely beyond his control. / mean
that the Nationalist passions of Ger
many may become intiamed by
continued political subjugation in the
Rhincland that the most sincere dew
otees of the republic will be over
whelmed.
Breeds Hatred. He Says.
1T is for the allied powers, not tie
German government or people, to
prevent the arrival of such cond!-
tionS. They can do so only by
pledging themselves. at the earliest
feasible moment, to evacuate the
occupied zones on the Rhine. l do
not suggest that evacuation must be
immediate. But occupation must not
he prolonged to the end of the full
l5-year period provided by the treaty
of Versailles. Ii there is no abandon
ment OF that provision, nobody can
predict how long reactionary Nation
alist sentiment can be repreSsed, or
what the duration Of the 7-year-old
German republic Will be.
1T is the youth of Germany in
whose keeping the destiny of the re-
public is placed-the youth that will
be the soldiers of tomorrow. Ii Ger
man youth is brought up in the
existing atmosphere of hatred and
revenge, such as the continued occu-
patton of the Rhineland is unques-
tionably breeding, it VIII grow into
a German manhood that may seek
salvation for the Fatherland under
some other form of government than
the republic which seemed powerless
10 regain Germany's liberty.
The step that Foreign Minister
Stresemann has taken - to offer
France a non-aggresSion and security
pact-is, in my judgment, the most
important political action taken in
Europe for 30 years If France and
Germany contract not to make war
on each other the peace of Europe
ought TO be assured for generations
10 come. That is a boon, it seems
TO us, that western Europe can afford
to purchase ut the price we Ger
mans feel we are entitled to ask
namely, at the price of fair play and
fair chance for ourselves.
Holds Contentment Vital
Without restored Rhineland
there cannot be that psychological
state of mind in Germany which is
necessary to the rehabilitation of our
economic structure. We cannot get
back to work in the old way as long
as our greatest Industrial province
is shackled by foreign military oc-
cupation. There may be no actual
interference with our domestic po-
litical and commercial activities. But
the yoke of the Conqueror will be
around our necks all the same.
'As long as it is there, there can
be no real content, no spiritual hap
piness, no mental peace. And these
things, every economist and every
nl ~ u
nation is to recover its physical
strength and Self-respect. Every hour
these shackles remain upon US. just
that much water is poured upon the
Nationalist mill. Just that much
strength is sapped from the Repub-
lican movement. BY just that much
will its growth be retarded.
Is Fearful for Dawes Plan.
These are the results Germany
hopes will eventually flow from
Locarno-liberty for the Rhineland
corresponding support for the German
republic. They are indissolubly linked" /"
DR.. Wirth, as chancellor, together
with the martyred Or. Walther
Bathenau as his foreign minister
evolved in 1921-1922 the so-called
policy of fulfilment' of Germanys
obligations under the treaty of Yer
Sailles. Wirth affirms Germanys de-
termination to live up to the require
ments of the Dawes dlan, in letter and
spirit. to the limit Of her capacity.
But he thinks it Will he for the next
year or two to show whether the
paramount question of transferring
huge sums of German gold marks into
payments in foreign currency can be
permanently solved without grave dis
rurhance of exchange and export con-
ditionS.