The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st, 1924. GERMANY’S CHOICE.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 September 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER Ist, 1924. GERMANY’S CHOICE.

Latb cable news on Saturday brought tho intimation that the German ReichStag had accepted the Dawes report as a means to adjust the reparations. This was the virtual acceptance ot the late London pact which was to he signed on Saturday and so assure the first real advance towards tho peace settlement. 'Hie decision by Germany was at host a matter of Hobson’s choice. Naturally Germany did not wish to accept readily, if at all, hut nonraccepitanoe would have left the country in a niort difficult plight than , ever. The Nationalists "ere tho most pronounced jn tliejr opposition, hut evidently they did not wish to boar the odium of a refusal, as they had no alternative panacea. To reject the olive branch held out from the London Conference was to throw discretion to tho winds, and make the position within Germany more confounded plian ever, By friikn?? of good fp-ith, ]

Germany can get- rid of the hulk of the occupying troo]«, and will he aide to raise money on loan which will assist to tide the country over the initial stages of recuperation. Once Germany's credit is at ;dl re-established, the country has the resources to pull through. 1 sinking to the past industrial history of the country there can lie little doubt 011 that point. Germany has an enormous debt to discluirge, hut it can never lie met by sulking and sitting still. Germany has to become operative again find reproductive, and her outlook will become brighter at once, i’.y a .settlement such ns the Allies have devised, Germany has the most, .actually, to gain for she will he able to rehabilitate herself. The Allies will assist with loan moneys, as they will assist, also, with markets for German goods—the sale of which will repay the loans :■ 111 1 help to make up the reparation payments. It will he fill an elaborate system of exchange, and greatly for the benefit of Germany;, which will Co able to extricate herself from the morass of debt and difficulty the country is in now. What the indirect effect will he on the Allied countries remains to he seen. It is manifest lirituin will have a serious trade rival. That is recognised in advance, hut anticipate' the fact, sis industiv will, there must ensue a degree of dislocation which will take time find ability to adjust. The neighhoni ing countries will have their rival trading problems to adjust also, si that Europe whiledisposing of the nightmare of doubt, and difficulty following the- war. will create fresh complications which, while not so baneful in their general effect, will nevertheless require much care and attention to adjust them with the' least internal disturbance. However, the settlement, such as it is. had l come as the initial move for the nl-

timutc readjustment <4 sane international intercourse. The stage that has been reached is an assurance that a more rational spirit is prevailing in Kurope, and now that the nations are ■shaking hands they enter a new era whi.h it is to be hoped will brighten as time passes into happier and more settled conditions for fill concerned.