The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1918. THE QUESTION OF INDEMNITIES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 433, 10 December 1918, Page 2

The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1918. THE QUESTION OF INDEMNITIES.

"We nothing extenuate, nor let down auaht in malice

Since we published a leader in our issue of Nov. 29th, advocating the enforcement of payment of an indemnity by Germany, the question has been coming very much to the foie in England and her Dominions, and in France. There now seems to be an almost universal consensus of opinion that the Huns should be compelled to make good, so far as money can make it good, the wanton damage they caused, and also reimburse us for the cost of the war. It is now generally recognised that common justice to ourselves makes this course necessary, and if at the same time the effect of such heavy payments should have the result of making it impossible for Germany ever to get together again armaments making it possible for her to challenge the peace of the world so much the better.

A cable published on Saturday last gives Mr Harold Cox's analysis of Germany's ability to pay what is likely to be demanded from her. It bears out what we said on the 29th ttlt. with singular precision, and it gives (what we were unable to give) the actual figures of what the claims are likely to amount to. The aggregate reaches the vast sum of twenty thousand millions of pounds (20,000,000,000); but huge as this amount is, it is yet (Mr Cox believes) within the compass of Germany's power to discharge the debt. Half of this amount he believes it possible for her to pay in cash, and by tangible assets in the shape of colonies, ships, and her investments abroad. The rest can be secured (as we suggested) by royalties over her iron and potash deposits, aided by an annual tribute from the general taxpayer, which would naturally have to be a fi>st charge upon the country's revenue. Mr Cox adds, " Thus the Germans would be compelled to work aud remain poor, while the Allies, relieved of the burden of their war-debts, would enjoy a high standard of comfort, and fewer hours of labour."

This may appear a somewhat dismal prospect for the Germans but, after all, they will get off far more lightly than they deserved. Supposing we had refused to give them an armistice, and instead had permitted Marshal Foch to " fight his battle," as he regretted

he had not been allowed to do, how would Germany have fared then ? The German has behaved all along in such a manner that we need not feel the smallest commiseration for him. As Admiral Beatty said, he is "a despicable beast." We have only to think of the four long years of starvation, brutalitv, and enforced slavery that not only their unfortunate prisoners of war, but the civilian populations of Belgium and Northern France had to endure, to make us harden our hearts sufficiently to enable us to bear the sight of the Germans working hard to pay us off with equanimity, if not with satis faction.

There is ore thing, however, we cannot understand, and that Is the silence of the New Zealand Parliament upon the subject. It is true that Parliament appears to have entirely abrogated its functions since the National Ministry took office, and that is the reason we have to put up with actions such as Mr Russell's when dealing with the country's health, and the high-handed censorship imposed by Mr Myers. But one would have thought that this question of an indemnity was one that Parliament, however servile and humble as a general thing, would have ventured to express an opinion upon, whether an opinion was desired by its leaders or not.