Evening star., 1925-03-12
REV|V|NG GERMANY
SEEN BY H0UGHTON
Says Nation Is Economically
and Politically Sound and
Almost Disarmed.

Germany is economically and polit-
ically sound, and reports that that
republic is preparing secretly for war
are mere propaganda, according 10
Alanson 3. Houghton of New YORK,
former Ambassador to Germany, VINO
has been appointed TO succeed Secre-
tary of State Kellogg as Amoas-
sdor to Great Britain.
Ambassador Houshton made this
statement today at the White House,
where he has been house guest since
Tuesday night He has been close
observer of the developm in Ger
many during the past two years, ana
since arriving at the White House he
has given the President and Secre-
tary Kellogg an intimate and inter
esting account of the true situation
in that country and in the other
countries of continental Europe.
Finds Nation Disarmed.
The Ambassador, in discountins the
reports 10 the effect that Germany
Is quietly but energetically laying up
supplies of arms and ammunition, de-
csred that the republic is absolutely
disarmed and is unquestionably living
NJ to the terms OF peace. He said
the people of the republic are at
work, and, now that the Dawes plan
is successfully operating and capital
is flowing into the country, that ma
tion is in the midst of a great era
Of industrial activity.
There has been a wonderful change
since the application of the Dawes
plan" Ambassador Houghton said.
With the arrival of large CONNER
cial loans industry has come to life
again, and the republic is functioning
in a most satisfactory way. The new
situation is a most happy and slgnif1-
cant one. The general situation also
has been naturally benefited by the
Standardization of currency, and the
whole temper of the German people
has undergone a complete change
since the application of the Dawes
plan and the resuscitation of industry"
Before Dawes Plan.
Before the adoption of the Dawes
plan" Mr. Houghton went on to ex-
plain. more than a million and a quar-
ter persons were out of work in Ber-
lin alone. At this time it is authori-
tatively estimated that that number
has been reduced to less than $4,000
Probably throughout the whole of the
republic the army of unemployed
would not reach 100000.
while Germany may be considered
sound and is unquesticnably making
amazing strides, it is a long way
from its old position of power and
wealth. but at the rate she is going
now, and taking into consideration
the determination of the leaders of
the government and the people at
large, the time is not SO very far off
when Germany will be the Germany
of old, at least from an economical
viewpoint.
Police Not Menace.
6 hein0 nv Ii in
the claim that Germany is violating
its treaty of peace in the matter of
building up. an army, that its state
police are in reality being utilized as
a nucleus for another powerful Ger
man military force" Mr.. Houghton
continued This is misleading 1t
is based upon the fact that the state
police is housed in the old military
barracks. Only one in ten of these
state police is armed with a rihe 1t
may be true that in some remote sec
ttons there has been a storing away1
of arms and supplies, but this has
been on small scale and is not at
all representative. Germany couldn't
make war if she wanted to. Suppose
she did accumulate arms and some
ammunition. she has not reserve be-
hind ii, and to carry on war there |
must be production ability and an
unlimited reserve strength.
Political Life Better.
The Improvement in Germany"
Mr.. Houghton added, lis not confined |
to it's economic side, but to it's politi- |
cal life as well. The government lit |
tie by little, is growing away from |
the control of the Socialists. The |
government is developing into a citi- |
zens government, and there are no |
now monarchial problems or embar- !
rassmentS. While two-thirdS of the |
German people are republicans, il is |
not unlikely that they may go back |
10 some form of monarchy in the |
far distant future, but IL they do it |
will be greatly diluted monarchy"
Ambassador Houghton credited the |
Dawes plan and the brilliancy of
leadership on the part of the late |
President Ebert as being the prin- |
cipal contributors toward the up
building of the German republic He
considered Ebert as the greatest man
produced in Germany since Bismarck. !
Mr.. Houghton will leave Washing
ton tonight for his home in Corning,
\. T., but will not go to London be-
fore April. Before doing so he will
return to Washington for another
series of conferences with the Presi- |
dent and Secretary Kellogg. He ex-
planned that it would be useless for
him to return to London until King
George returns. because a foreign
Ambassador cannot function until he
has been received by the King