The Daily News. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1921. GERMAN SQUANDERMANIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1921. GERMAN SQUANDERMANIA.

“ Why save mon for the Government and foreigners to take in taxes and reparations?' It is much better to enjoy oneself.” This, states the Daily Mail’s special correspondent in Munich, is the mental attitude of the German workman to-day. It is important to bear in mind that special correspondents have a decided tendency to serve up' their remarks with an amount of frills and coloring intended to attract attention, especially of those who take their, news from the headlines. Apart from this factor in establishing news value, it by no means, follows that what is happening in Bavaria necessarily reflects the state of affairs in other parts of Germany. It will be remembered that about a month ago, at. a meeting of the Vigilance Committee of the Reichstag, Herr Dittmann (an Independent Socialist) described Munich as the headquarters of the Monarchist plotters, to which the Bavarian delegate retorted that Bavaria was accustomed to be governed from Munich, not from Berlin. Thereupon, Dr. Wirth condemned the threatening tone of the Bavarians, stating that the tension between the working population and the parties on the Right was enormous. The attitude of the German Government over the murder of Herr Eraberger had the effeet of consolidating the Republican parties, as well as bringing about a striking unanimity of the Centre and the Majority and Independent Socialist Parties in supporting the Government, a policy that was followed by the trade unions, resulting in the most remarkable demonstration of Republican strength that has so far been exhibited in Germany. The firmness of the Government in suppressing the Monarchist reactionary movement gained much popular respect, which hitherto has been lacking, and proved that German Labor.— moderate and extreme—supports the Government, in upholding the Republic, as well as impressing the Allies with the fact that the strengthening of Dr. Wirth’s Ministry is a guarantee that the Government will carry out the Versailles Treaty. There is, therefore, justification for regarding the Daily Mail’s correspondent’s statements with the suspicion that they are designed for a special purpose, and the editorial in that journal relating thereto appears to confirm this view. What he says, of Germany may partly represent the state of affairs in Bavaria, but the question naturally arises as to why Munich (the headquarters of Monarchist plotters) was chosen as the headquarters of the Daily Mail’s correspondent, and why the colossal expenditure in Bavaria is so stressed, it being left to the readers to infer that the whole of Germany is indulging in a squandermania in order to escape payment, of reparations. That is the crux of the Daily Mail’s editorial, hence it would seem that the special correspondent apparently wrote to order, or if not he Was well aware of the moral which his paper intended to point. Can any other conclusions be deduced from that editorial in view of the fact that, it asserts: “By sinking large sums in this manner (on railway stations and electric plant) Germany prevents the Allies from getting hold of the money for reparations, a development that may have a-elose relation to the rapid and mysterious fall of the mark . using the fall as one more t proof of poverty and the desperate financial position. It is part of the great economic offensive launched by Herr Stinnes and his

friends against British and Allied trade, and provides a further reason why Allied diplomats should be alert.” Does the Daily Mail consider that the Allies arc not aware of what is transpiring in Germany, aud especially in Bavaria ? It is not difficult to read between the lines, and to arrive at the conclusion that the whole business is pure propaganda. However little we may be inclined to trust Germany, there is a moral obligation on the part of the Allies to give her the benefit of the doubt. That Herr Stinnes and his friends are on the side of the Monarchists and militarists is a sure thing. They are among the few who grew fat, out, of the war, and would, no doubt, gladly welcome another of the same sort. Whether or not the object of the Daily Mail is to endeavor to discount the work of disarmament or not can only be conjectured, but the luridly painted picture of the correspondent is too obviously a means to an end. He may be able to tell both Britain and the Allies what they do not know as to. what, is going on in Germany and Bavaria, but they will hardly accept his version in preference to the reliable information they possess. Moreover, it is their policy to encourage Germany to keep faith, and not to stir up strife.