ANTI-FOREIGN MOVEMENT IN GERMANY

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 120, 6 February 1923, Page 7

ANTI-FOREIGN MOVEMENT IN GERMANY

Germany’s economic problems have their counter-part in the very strong anti-foreign movement which is growing among ths population of Berlin (states the London “Observer’s” Berlin correspondent). The antipathy began ill a wave of anti-Semitism, the first influx of foreigners consisting mainly of poor Jews from Galicia, long before those rich Jews who lia.ve since arrived from Vienna to speculate in marks. It is obvious that the public in general has very little idea of what the rich American and the English counteiqMrt consume in hotels and buy up in the way of luxuries. There are whole neighbourhoods where no member of the Allies and their friends has ever set foot. Envy of tho wealthy foreigner is confined "to a very small class. But there are whole neighbourhoods consisting of big blocks of buildings—“mansions,” containing r rom ten to fifty flats —that have been brought up by those who speculated in marks soon after tho Armistice was signed, and who have viewed with evdr-increasing dismay the depreciation of the paper they held. To buy anything that stood in brick or stone meant, that some solid value might yet ho obtained for the outlay. Die German house owner was obliged to sell owing to the rental restrictions imposed by tho Government, which have reduced land'ords to beggary, and to sell quickly for fear of the" threat of “socialisation.” Half the professional classes owned some such house representing the family fortune, and tho plight of the intellectualls is tas inextrlca.blv bound up » ; th their property ns with their profession. Die Spaniard. Dutchman, nnd. of late, the Czech, have bought whole streets, and refuse any more repairs than tho law imposes on the unfortunate German landlord. Ono snob house owner can incur the undying hatred of as many peojflo as his pr<»perty will bold. It is now being realised that when the mark is stabilised the actual ruin of the former possessing classes will bo complete. A vorv groat deal of the sudden proletarian “hatred” can bo explained this way. nnd peculiar treatment in train, tram, and public places mav bo laid nt its door.