The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JANUARY 6th. 1925. PEACH. PROSPECTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JANUARY 6th. 1925. PEACH. PROSPECTS.

Ix the year now opened, many nations are able to look forward with increased confidence and brightened hopes on aconnt of the progress that has at length lieen made ii. laying the foundations of European settlement. From the time the Great War came to an end until last year had run more than half its course, the outlook of the whole world was clouded by the stale of affairs existing in Europe. Instead of a peace settlement, says the ’‘Dominion,” there was a continuation of hostilities in a new form. Germany, instead of meeting her war liabilities, pursued extraordinary tactics of evasion and obstruction. Amongst other things she indulged in such a debauch of currency depreciation as the world had never seen. France, as the Allied nation most keenly intent on bringing Germany to a reckoning, instituted strong measures of coercion, including the occupation of the Ruhr early in 1923. but for a long time these wore barren of effect. These unsettled and potentially explosive conditions not only crippled or hampered efforts at reconstruction in Europe, blit reacted, alwavs unfavourably and sometimes disastrously, tei international affairs and problems throughout the world. Nearly every country in the world would have been in a better state, economically and in every other way. if such a settlement l>otween Germany and the Allies as the Dawes report makes possible bad been reached a year or two ago. The acceptance by the nations concerned of the Dawe-s reparations settlement opens, or appears to have opened, a new era in international affairs. I nt.il a week oi so ago, there was a general feeling of relief and of confidence that a practical adjustment of outstanding war issues had at last been effected. Now, however. there are again muttering*. or rather more than mutterings, of renewed dispute between Germane and the Allies. The situation has its nbviouslv threatening features, but its outcome can hardly be serious it plain prominence is given to the facts in dispute. The contention now developing is not in any wav concerned with the main features of the Dawes scheme, ruder this practical settlement. a.s most people know, Germany is obtaining international assistance in re-estab-lishing her credit, and at the same time lias an assurance that she will not lm required to pay more in reparations than she is capable of paying without undue strain or sacrifice. The Allies, on their part, have better guarantees nf obtaining substantial compensation payments from Germany than they are likely to secure hv any alternative procedure. Neither Germany nor the Allies can afford to wreck this settemont. or allow it to he wrecked, and it is the saving feature of the existing situation that strong sections in all the countries concerned are likely to recognise and act upon tin’s self-evident fact. The present dispute turns wholly on the question of Germany’s good faith in carrying out her disarmament obligations. Tinder the Treaty of Versailles, the Allies are bound to eyac-

uato the Cologne bridgehead on January 10 next. provided Germany has earieil out her treaty obligations. The nnanimous decision of the .Allies to postpone the evacuation implies that they are convinced of the truth of the charges made in .France that Germany had deiaultod in the matter of the destruction of war material. It is most unsatisfactory, however, that the charges against Germany have not yet been established by the publication of conclusive evidence. AVe are told on the authority of the diplomatic correspondent of a London newspaper that the Allies ‘‘will probably follow up the present Xofe with a definite pronouncement of Germany’s defaults.” Obviously it would have been very much better had this step been taken at the outset. At the moment \he facts are far from being clearly established, and an opportunity lias thus been afforded to German, propagandists of which they are eagerly making the most. Fortunately their usual ineptitude has led these trouble-makers- into such absurdities as find expression in the assertion that the decision lint to evacuate Cologne is to he attributed less to “French militarism” than to “liritis ht;ant”, and to a sinister attempt by Britain to destroy German industries. Even in Germany, it may lie supposed, only a small part of the population will be- gulled by this extravagance of false accusation. The essential point, however, is that in dealing with such a question as is now raised with Germany there is no need to give any opening to unscrupulous propagandists in that, country. Any attempt to postpone the evacuation of the occupied areas on trivial or insufficient grounds would certainly he condemned in Britain and America, and cot/d hardly he defended in France. Assuming, on the other hand, that the Allied charges arc sheeted home, it mav he expected that at least a considerable proportion of the German people will insist that their Government discharge its treaty obligations. if iudeecl. they do not. recognise that ihe Allies are entitled to exercise pressure to that end. Ihe' Allies have everything to gain from a policy of open frankness. Adopting it, thev will consolidate public opinion in their own countries and in America, and may hope to make the mischief-making efforts of German propagandists ridiculous even in the eyes oj their own countrymen. Much harm has already been done by allowing dissension to develop in an atmosphere of some obscurity and uncertainty. If. however, the obvious remedy of establishing clearly the facts of Germany’s default is applied without further delay, the year l!)2d may witness excellent progress, not only in forwarding economic adjustment and restoration in Fuvonc and throughout the world, hut in strengthening the safeguards of peace.