The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1918. SHOULD GERMANY PAY?

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1918. SHOULD GERMANY PAY?

The oflieiiil review summarising the Allies' operations (presumably supplied to the New Zealand Government by the British Minister of Information) describes the reported German offer of peace to Belgium as wholly improbable, going ■ on to say that "though the Germans themselves established the principle of reparation by demanding time iuuidiu! million lor Cier- ■ !* ■

•mans injured by the Russians in the war, Germany has now herself reiused any reparation for the rniu wrought by the Germans in Belgium." A peace without indemnities will not be satisfactory, for it would be based on injustice to those innocent nations whose peoples have, been grievously murdered and outraged, whose property lias been stolen or destroyed, and whose cherished possessions and ancient edifices have been sacked. Indemnities, no matter how large, will never reinstate them, nor compensate the outraged nations for the loss of their loved ones so brutally treated and massacred, or fallen in battle. But it would be a colossal crime against the people of France, Belgium, and Servia and the world itself, if the Germans responsible for all this welter of misery and loss, this crucifixion of millions of innocent people, were allowed at the reckoning day to go Scot free.' That, of course, is what they are aiming at. They believe in indemnities—for themselves. Bismarck instituted the practice in 1871, and ever since the German hordes descended oii hapless Belgium and Northern France they have been exacting indemnities from (he unfortunate towns. Brussels, for instance, has been ''fined" millions of pounds, besides having to give up all her materials and machinery, running into millions of pounds. Even the copper kettles and door knobs have been forcibly taken bv the gentle invaders. "From the Belgian banks alone the Germans stole (wenty-l'oar million sterling, and annexed wool in Northern France to the value of twenty-two million. They pursued the same policy m Russia, talcing everything they could lay hands upon, mid one condition of the BrestLitovsk treaty was the payment of a three hundred million indem"ilv. Besides this the Germans have commandeered the labor of the invaded country to produce foodstuffs and,carry on their war industries. Capitalised, this forced labor would be valued at hundreds ol millions, for it must be remembered that Germany has forced mto service, at the bayonet point millions of civilians and prisoners Germany, before the Russian collapse, started the erv of 'no indemnities and no annexations" 1 hen she feared that the war was going against her. She sang quite a diflcreiitfuue when the GermanI'flid Bolsheviks had done their fell wo,-k._ After the March and April •offensives, when things looked very bright for them,-they began to boast once more of wliaL they would exact from France and Bri. tain. Thc.y were going [q n °t only Belgium, but the northern "trip of France and the French nl.annel ports, while Britain and trance wore 1o be made to nay .llie whole of Germany's war costs vyitJi something to boot. Now that Germany sees things arc «o jug against her. this/time decisively, .rembles at the huge American army coining across, and knows Aemejjis is about to overtake her she again raises the cry of "„o annexations, and no indemnities" it is an integral part of the Hun peace propaganda. We hope the Allies will pay no heed to it. but go on with the war, and dictate their terms to the enemy and not consult her at the diplomats' table. Those terms must provide for the payment in full of all the damage wrought and harm done, the reinstatement of every French, Belgian and Servian town, village, industry and commerce, the repayment with compound interest, of every shilling taken jip ,-■ ~jle hapless invaded countries. They must also provide for the reinstatement of every ship sunk by German submarines, and for the cost Britain and the colonies have been put to in this waV. Harsh, impossible terms some will say. If they are harsh they are only just, and are according to the precedent Germany has set us. !(- must never be forgotten Unit Germany not only levied a crushing indemnity upon France when she lay prostrate, but forcibly look over two great populations of passionately patriotic Frenchmen, of whose allegiance and affections there was at the time no doubt whatever. These people not, only personally j'eit. but they publicly declared, thaUhey were being carried into captivity against their will. It was ■•■ eruei action that a. just Europe '■ould never have tolerated. As for Germany's ability to pay, that may not, be possible at once, but' whe has immense natural resources, mid it. is only right and proper that her people for generations to come should carry the load, while it incidentally will prevent Ihem from ever again threatening the peace nf the world, and serve as a constant reminder of the great crime committed against an innocent ; and peace loving' world, and of • their duty to help in expiating - it in the only practicable way' f. One authority, it, may be stated, - estimates Germany's resources in - coal, iron and po!a h ai C 937 678- ; 000,000.. Britain's i , (i - debt, in- . eluding Joans to the Allies and the j Dominions, amounts to £7,000.000,--jOOO, or one thirty-fourth part of - tut value of ihe minerals named.

Germany can, therefore, pay the price of her crimes, and, what is more, should be made to, and the war should be prosecuted with all our power, resources and will until we arc hi a position to enforce payment.