The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West coast Times. TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1929

Hokitika Guardian, 8 January 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West coast Times. TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1929

, GKKAIANY ANT) i\ El’A RATIONS. A moil 111 ago, recalls ;tn Fxeliange, the British, French mid German Foreign ,iimisters met at Lugano to discuss international affairs, and more especially Germany’s position in regard to hoi icpavatioii payments and the occupation of the Rhineland. But llie Geimans wore hitlerly disillusioned by the joint statement issued just before Christmas over the signatures of AI. fji'iand. Dr Stresemann and Sir Austen Chamberlain, For tliis document, while reiterating the desire of the signatories to confirm friendship and peace between the Powers, consists vhieily of amiable platitudes and contains no reference to the two questions which Germany just now has most at heart. Naturally the German newspapers expressed freely and forcefully the disappointment of the people. TJk Nationalist Press declared that the Lugano Conference was absolutely futile, and pronounced a verdict of political annihilation upon Dr Stresemann. This resentment at the failure of the diplomatists has now been expressed, even more emphatically by President llindenburg, who at a recent official function is reported to have said that the German people are deprived of their natural and inalienable liberties, and that the time has come for them ‘•to use their entire strength to remove the obstacles to their national progress.” It is not likely that anyone outside Germany will pay much attention to the views of Jlindenburg, ~vno.se- age and record of patriotic service render him to some extent a privileged personality. But more importance attaches to the opinions of the German Chancellor, Dr Mueller, wno on the same becasion made a vehement protest against the policy of tin Allies. A lore particularly Dr Mueller declared that the continued payment oi reparations means the impoverishment of Germany, that the impression ol Germany’s widespread prosperity, sedu|ous*y fostered by me Allies, is “all contrary to the facts,” and that nothing but a relaxation of the Allied polity in these particulars could “restore the sincere and friendly relations that are so essential to the maintenance of peace.” As to the Rhineland, it is natural that the Germans should regard the presence of the foreign troops there .as a humiliation. But they arc determined to ignore two facts that ...e French at least cannot afford to overlook—the origin and nature of the war and the danger of a German “rcv.'viehc.” As to reparations, it is hardly necessary to say that Dr Alticller, in asserting loudly the poverty of the Germans, iinds himself entirely al variance with many material proofs of German prosperity and many triumph ant proclamations of Germany’s complete economic recovery from the effects, ol the war. Air Barker Gilbert, m bis recent analysis of tbe position, do. •lared that the Dawes Blau renders ii possible for Germany to pay her indemnity by instalments without any grave economic hardship, and tb" Danes scheme makes full allowance for Germany’s loans during the first four years and for the balancing of III" budget. Dr Mueller lias not yet d :; - closed any valid reason that should induce the Bowers to modify their pro sent attitude towards Germany.