CONDITIONS IN GERMANY

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 1 March 1921, Page 15

CONDITIONS IN GERMANY

PITIFUL PLIGHT OF PEOPLE. LONDON, February 22. Sir Robert Anderson, who was chairman of the New Zealand Defence Commission some years ago, has returned from a visit to Germany. Re says the conditions there are distressing. The people are very poor but are proud, and are suffering their humiliation without showing it. They are very shabby, wearing clothes made of paper, and are working hard and for long hours. The output is good, with increasing efficiency, and there are few profiteers, but there is considerable extravagance, mostly amongst affluent foreigners. Under-feeding is apparent everywhere, especially amongst the children. The Germans do not object to the heavy indemnity, but they resent the long delay in the payment. They attribute their defeat to the British navy, and are exceedingly proud of the work of their army. Ex-officers are in a deplorable state, and many are reduced to selling newspapers and novelties. Hunger is compelling many others to join the Russian Reds. The English soldiers at Cologne are popular, but the French are loathed. The Germans will never forgive the use of black troops. The impression gained by Sir Robert Anderson is that the people are suffering depression, but not despair, and the country will eventually come out strong, selfreliant, and vigorous. He says Australia will be compelled to trade with Germany, her attitude being regarded by the Germans with amusement rather than anger. The Germans have a high opinion >f the New Zealanders, who are generally described as a division of gentlemen because of their treatment of German prisoners and their demeanour when imprisoned. PRUSSIAN ELECTIONS. LONDON, February 19. The Prussian election campaign is being

waged with unprecedented bitterness. The Junkers are plastering the country with placards of the ghost of Frederick the Great weeping at the spectacle of Republican Germany, and exclaiming: “Is this Prussia?” The Socialists are retaliating with posters, in which the ex-Kaiser is labelled: “The Imperial clown whose folly brought the world war and caused misery and death to millions.” Februav 23. The final results of the Prussian elections are approximately known. Though they show the expected swing to the Right, it is not so considerable as the reactionaries anticipated. The three Government parties —the Majority Socialists, the Catholic Centre Party, and the Democrats—will secure 299 out of a total of 421 seats, as compared with 310 in the previous AssemThe reactionary {People’s and National) parties will secure 130, as compared with BERLIN, February 23. The Prussian Cabinet has decided to resign.