The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1915. WHAT THEY WILL PAY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 3, 4 May 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1915. WHAT THEY WILL PAY.

'ln a recent cable message Sir George Paish is reported to have said that it must be evident to German business men, as to everybody else that the longer the war the more onerous will be the terms of peace and the more serious and permanent the consequences to the German nation. It is oi interest in this connection the Otago Daily Times says, to read Mr A. J. Wilson on all the aspects of peace, and particularly ill relation to the pay. merit to be made by Germany and Austria in explanation of their sin of aggression. For the benefit of those likely to be very busy thrusting forward proposals designed to let the aggressors off too easily, lie endeavours to assess the damages to be given against them.' His verdict is that if the Prussians decide and can manage to carry on this wild, and inhuman war throughout the present year, and to suffer infinite misery and starvation in doing so, the bill the victorious Allies will have to present to (hem at the end will amount to at least £;},000,000,000. "If they could only pause in their raging furies of denunciation," Mr Wilson continues in his best admonitory vein, "and glance at this side of the subject, it might begin to dawn even upon the obtuse mind of the hate-consumed Teuton that, in allowing himself to bo slain at tin* rate he is. he is busy riveting fetters on the neck of his race practically for ever. For how can this £:3,00().000,0<K) be paid? 1 have steadily insisted that the traitor empires must be shut in at the peace and taxed for behoof of their creditors, but no customs revenue would provide the amount necessary to pay ■I per cent, interest and 1 per cent. sinking fund on such a mountain of war-created debt We could not count on £50,000;000 from this source drawn from the two empires together, and therefore a debt of £3,000,000,000 will have to be provided for and wiped out by other forms of taxation, probably involving a poll-tax in addition to the customs duties if nothing better serves. A poll-tax of CI per bead over the two empires would perhaps return one hundred to one hundred and ten millions per annum, and through these two channels enough money might be raised to satisfy the demands of the victors." Why the Germans continue the war is a qnestion that many, including the higher gnyle American newspapers, have asked. Perhaps Mr Wilson is in the right when lie answers: "Because they dare not confess the truth and slop, because the enr.se of God is upon t.r.eir, and they mir.l .continue to d«'-.in>y tlifrntielves

until compelled In accept 'our' peace." Certainly, the Times concludes, we imagine that there are few in Sie Empire who do not entertain with Mr Wilson the strong conviction that, blaspheme as they may, the Germans will have to pay for giving way as they have done to their demoralising passions.