INTERNAL GERMANY

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1920, Page 1

INTERNAL GERMANY

CRY FOR FOOD AND WORK

LONDON, July 27

Mr E. R. Peacock (Special Commismissioiter of the “Sydney Soil”), in on “interview, slimmed up his impressions gathered during nearly six months’ tom- of the cities and industrial centres in Germany, subsequent to a visit to the Spa Conference. lie declared that there was difficulty in establishing an entirely now form of Government, while the country was a till suffering a. tremendous social and economic disturbance, which lie explains is more than outsiders realise. Germany’s attitude towards the Treaty is the fundamental problem of the whole situation, and is vitally affecting disarmament, the restoration of industry, and the satisfactory fulfilment of the pc.ace obligations. Strong political leadership, _ capable of holding a. stable majority in the Reichstag, has apparently not yet been found. The existence of the Fehreni>nrh Government is precarious. The Communists and irreconcilable Socialists represent only 50 of the total electorates, hut they are the best organised parties in the country. They are largely armed now and are constantly receiving propagandist reinforcements from Russia. The great majority of the people are undoubtedly tired of internal dissension, and "'ill soon settle down if given sufficient food. Actual hunger is still seen in many parts of Germany, and there is a liability in these circumstances of n recurrence of revolutionary passion and recklessness. The irreconcilables may detach a section of the Majority Socialists, and m that event there would be an immediate danger of Bolshevism spreading over the country. The success of the Russians against- Poland is liable to contribute to that end.

Mr Peacock believes that fears of aggression by the militarist section of the French are genuinely entertained in Germany, and intensify the difficulties of disarmament, but tile economic needs are the most important of all. “Give us food, raw materials and work,” is everywhere heard. Given these without delay everything else will probably follow.