Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 1919. VENGEANCE OR BOLSHEVISM?

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1961, 5 April 1919, Page 2

Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 1919. VENGEANCE OR BOLSHEVISM?

THE current issue of the “Review; of Reviews,” dealing with the war settlement plans and Bolshevism, says; —“The extremists are palpably scared. They see plainly before (hem the inevitable result which must follow their programme of crushing (he German people, of boycotting them, of humiliating them in the dust —and they are beginning to be afraid. This fear is being shouted aloud in the cables, is being whispered in the clubs, is now freely expressed in the streets. Those who, a few weeks hack demanded the Kaisers head on a charger, roundly declared that for decades German goods must he shut out from the world's markets, foamed furiously over the actions of President Wilson, which they declared were aimed at sheltering Germany from the just vengeance of the civilised world, are shouting a great deal less and thinking a great deal more. It is being slowly burn into their reluctant consciousness that the logical outcome of their demands is a weltering chaos in Germany, and, whilsi they Avould view the complete sulm mergence and desiruction of 70,000,000 Teutons with entire complacency and satisfaction, they arc beginning to realise that they thcmsel-

ves would Ite sucked into the Bolshevik whirlpool, This has given them pause, and, knowing the way of we may anticipate to find them ere long vehemently criticising those who have so vigorously pushed matters to the breaking point. They urged the crushing of the Germans on the ground of necessity if the world were to be made safe in future. They will soon be urging leniency to »save the world from disaster.

all time by insisting on terms more drastic than we ventured to even dream of six months ago. Suddenly we discover that we must give up all idea of huge indemnities, or even payment for damage, until we have rushed supplies into Germany wherewith to feed (he'people. Thu alternative is that Bolshevism, which has Russia absolutely in its gras]), will sweep through Germany into France, Italy, and even Great Britain. This is a danger which our late extremists -regard as a far worse menace than that of Frussianism. But Bolshevism cannot be fought with rides and cannon, aeroplanes and tanks. It can only bo defeated by food and concessions, to the Germans first, and to workers the world over afterwards. Instead of proceeding to crush the Germany and ring the last penny out of an utterly dejected people, it is becoming the task of the Allies to uphold the Government now in power, to feed the people, and help them (<i resume normal life and business again. Food it is now realised the Germans must have immediately—if a, world disaster is to be avoided. Inevitably the next step will disclose itself to be that raw materials the Gormans must have immediately — if further disaster is to lie avoided. Hunger may be the spawning ground of Bolshevism; unemployment is where it is propagated. The Allies therefore will most certainly have to abandon all intention of withholding raw materials, may even have to assist the Germans to gel: them. Having helped the Germans back into more or less normal conditions, the Allies will have to further assist the Teutons to earn the money wherewith to pay the heavy hills they will present to Germany. They will, perforce, have to allow tho Gentians access to 'world markets, for Germany must trade to make money, must have imports to create a customs-' revenue which can be, sequestered. There will he no imports unless there are exports, and, it would lie no surprise at alllo find Hie Allies actually helping instead of hindering in the re-establishment of Germany’s foreign connections.

“HOW many, one wonders, foresaw (liese thing's when I hey made their Inigo demands last December. How many candidates at the last British elect ion, who so cheerfully promis - ed to hang the Kaiser, exact gigantic indemnities, boycott Germany, dreamed that three months later they would have to help the Germans. The new altitude is well illustrated by a recent cable fron| London. it runs: —‘There is a growing demand by certain well-in-formed (British) Ministerial newspapers (hal the most-extreme claims against Germany must be checked, it is admitted on all hands that Germany must be made to recognise that she has lost die war, and must be practically disarmed to an extent compatible with internal order, but, it is declared, die vengeful reactionaries in every Allied country, who' are seeking to debase and dismember the enemy, must be withstood, 'fhe Observer slates that the "body politic of the whole of civilisation will be poisoned if the Allies adopt sheer “Jlunnishness" and turn Germany into a centre of Bolshevist infection. ‘‘The next fortnight," the newspaper says, “will be the testing lime for ‘English-speaking statesmanship. Either it will save (lu; future or it will surrender to blind appetites, committing the future to a doom, of which France. Italy and Poland will be the surest victims in the long run.’ .Evidently the British papers now grasp the immense seriousness of the position, hire long that realisation will even penetrate to the minds of men on the very out - skirts of the Ejnpire."