The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-06-22
Move Held as important as
u. S. Entry Into
World War.
STEP TO AVERT CHAOS
Germany Is on Threshold
OF Revolution; Europe'S
Peace Menaced.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SININTS
Scripps-Howard Foreign Editor

Peace Menaced.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SfMMS
Scripps- Howard Foreign Editor
WASHINGTON, June 22.-Presi-
dent Hoover's move to hasten the
end of the world economic crisis
is regarded in diplomatic circles
here as equal in significance and
Importance to Americas entry into
the World war.
1t is regarded as the first step
toward saving the peace and
shortening the depression now, Just
as American participation then
altered the course of, and helped
abbreviate, Armageddon.
That the situation in Europe in
general and Germany in particular
is critical and in dire need of
remedy is freely admitted. Even
were this not so, news dispatches
from old world capitals would make
admission unnecessary.
Revolution Is Faced
Germany. key to the European
and, in sense, the world crisis, v
face to face with revolution. Her
own political leaders make no bones
about it. Only the SkillfuI handling
of affairs by Chancellor Bruening.
fort hoe f1YVe So -
off disaster.
And Germany's collapse I'M
doubtedly would endanger the en-
tire European structure.
To meet PREPARATIONS payments,
Germany today is forced to adopt
measures which half starve her
population. Up to 1929, she paid
by borrowing money from the
United States and other foreign
countries.
Now she can not borrow any
more, save at prohibitive rates of
interest,". and payments, if any,
must be met by economies at home.
Life Is Endangered
This year Germany is supposed to
pay approximately $400,000,000 on
reparationS. The drop in commodity
prices, however, serves to increase
that amount to an even half billion
and to raise it she is resorting to
Lecrees which, given the plight of
the masses, endanger the very life
Of the republic.
She has decreed new taxes on
wages; cuts in the salaries of gov
eminent employees and Officials; in
creaseS in commodity taxes, which
still further boost the already high
cost Of living to an impoverished
people, and decreases in unemploy-
ment benefits and pensions to dis
abled veterans.
These DEGREES have served gravely
to increase the tension. There are
some 100000 unemployed in the
reich, or almost as many as there
are in the United States, a country
Of almost twice the population.
Even those lucky enough to have
work are miserably paid, so per cent
Of the professional classes doctors,
lawyers, journalists, college profess
sors, civil engineers and so on
considering $50 a month good pay.
Reds Stir Trouble
Unrest, therefore, is on the in
crease. Facists and reds are gath
ering strength and with every new
move tending to increase the burden
of the masses is met by threaten
ing outbursts.
Overthrow of the government
like would result in civil war as
Fascists and Communists fought for
control. And whichever won, the
result, so far as reparations are con-
cerned, would be the same. Not
only would reparations be repud-
lated, but the treaty of Versailles
as well.
This easily might upset the whole
European applicant. France stands
by the Versailles treaty and prob
ably would move to enforce it. If
the reds gained control, Russia as
suredly would lend their Teutonic
comrades her support, menacing
Poland, Frances ally, in between.
Forecast Coming Truce
Abroad as well AZ in Washington
the belief is growing that events
are likely to follow the course out
lined exclusively in Scripps-Howard
newspapers on June 10, namely:
First, suspension of intergoyern-
mental payments. as proposed by
the President.
Second, the holding Of world
arms conference at Geneva next
February.
Third, depending upon the success
of that conference, a sound revision
of both reparations and war debts.