Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-07
GERMANY,cL|NG|NG
TO 'M|TTEL EUROPA
But Realization of Dominant
Role Now Is Sought by
Peaceful Policy.
BY PAUL SCOTT MowRER.

BY Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily
News. Copyright, 1913
PARIS, July THE declaration OF
policy of the new German Socialist gov
eminent, following the sweeping victory
for the Left in the ReichStag elections,
serves notice on the world of two essen
tial facts First, Germany at last oeIl-
nitely has established peaceful repuo-
lie with no further thought of military
revenge. and. second, German foreign
policy under the Socialist administr2-
ton remains unchanged.
What is this foreign policy on which
the entire German people seem united?
European statesmen no longer have any
doubts about it. The plan is as patient
and methodical as 1t is far-seeing and
grandiose. It aims, first, TO restore Ger
many to a position of full Independent
equality among the great powers ana,
second, to elevate Germany once more
to predominant position by realization
of the old dream of "Mittel Europa" on
new and practical lines without resort
to arms.
Plan Requires Time.
Naturally long time viii be required.
but it is considered that time is WORKING
TOR Germany and much already mas
been accomplished. Only 10 years ago
Germany was a pariah nation, crusneo,
bankrupt, torn by internal strife ana
bound by formidable economic and po-
litical servitudes. Today it is an order
", flourishing, progressive state which,
in the recent words of Edouard Benes,
one of Europe's leading statesmen, is
accepted as loyal partner IN 1nterna-
tional affairs by both France ana Great
Britain
How has this remarkable transforrca-
ton been accomplished? GermanyS
/ first despairing idea after the war was
| to oppose the allies by obstructionlsm
and threaten them by an alliance with
| Soviet Russia The result was internal
chaos and occupation of the Ruhr.
Only when the German leaders
! graspsd the wisdom of conciliating In
! stead of opposing the allies, notably
France, did real recovery begin. Ac-
ceptance of the Dawes plan. which put
reparations on a satisfactory basis and
brought about an end to imitation and
the sterilization of currency. was the
j first STEP Next came the Locarno
treaties whereby Germany once more
formally abandoned Aisace-Lorraine and
entered with France, Great Britain and
Italy into joint guarantee OF the new
Franco-German frontier. Soon after
ward Germany joined the League OF
Nations and began to play an active role
in disarmament and security questions
and the protection of German minori-
lies in other countries.
Improves Credit In United States
These acts of good viii reassure
American bankers. enabling Germany
to borrow large sums with which she
I has completed her financial and eco
nomlc re-establishment. The army,
I though limited by the Versailles treaty.
has been reorganized as a force OF
| trained specialists of high military po-
| tentiaiity. The navy is being rebuilt
\ The merchant feet already Is nearly
as large as it was before the war.
The idea of Russian alliance has
not been abandoned. It Is still main-
tanned as a threat in case OF nsed
against the Western powers and Poland.
but the real German effort has been
and continues TO be Cancellation Of the
Western powers.
A series of great Franco-German HI
dustrial carteis have drawn France and
Germany closer together. Prompt ac-
ceptance of the kellogg proposal TO
outlaw war indicates how DESTROYS Ger
many Is of keeping on the best Of terms
with the United States. AS for Britain
and Italy. they both need Germany for
reasons of their own, so no anxiety i
felt on that score