MAKE GERMANY PAY.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14891, 14 October 1918, Page 2

MAKE GERMANY PAY.

AN EMPTY TREASURY JJUT COLOSSAL WEAj.T&r

THREE COGENT REASONS.

Why should we ask no indemnity from Germany when the hour of Allied victory strikes? The cantino- cry of "No annexations, no indemnities" has no national warrant. It is not businese —the business that says he who loses must pay the piper (writes "Economist" in the "London Sunday Chronicle")

Mr John- Hodge, M.P., recently asked in a tono of surprise, "Why no indemnity?" Thousands more—workers, traders, merchants, and manufacturer's —will wantjto know why, if the hour of victory comes, we should not follow the precedent meted out by Germany to France in 1871.

Lord Emmott, in a striking speech in the House of Lords recently, showed that Germany's finances are in a very bad way indeed. No Customs revenue is being raised because of our blockade. As to excise, nothing is going into the Kaiser'vS Treasury, or practically nothing, because the people have precious little brandy, malt, and sugar to consume. Under those two headings Germany is running nearly £70,000,000 sliorb each year of war, and really, all round, fully three times that. ■Germany has been persuading her people that her victory is certain- and indemnities from the 'Allies will cover her- gigantic gamble. The Imperial Government's debt on March 31 next will amount to over £8,000,000,000. A balance on a German Budget without "indemnities" will never be heard of again in the Fatherland, talk as the German professors may. Germany's ■war chest is emptying, if it is not already empty. £170,000,000,000 IN COAL. Then how are we going to obtain an indemnity? How can we make Gerrnanj- pay ? A "writer of distinction, in Kelly's Monthly Trade Review, points the way. Germany to-day possesses the greatest mineral resources in Europe, especially in coal, iron and potass. The great dominating factor in industry, transport, and commerce —which is coal, the generator of power—is hers almost in profusion as compared with' other nations. According to statistics put before the International Geological Congress in the year before the war she has half the coal of Europe, three times as much as Great Britain, and twenty-four. times as much as France. Putting her natural stock of coal at 8s a ton at the pit mouth, there is a capital sum of £170,000,000,000. At the more reasonable price of 12s a ton -it would be £255,000,000,000. Can Germany, in the light of such incontrovertible figures of natural weath, be excused payment for her enormities? Up to date the lesser sum would pay England's war debt more than 20 times over.

Nor can the argument be advanced that Germany's coal is "poor stuff.'' It is largely bituminous and is rich in bj'-products, such as oil, gas, ammonia, tar, and dyes.

Secondly, as to her iron ore. In a report to the International 'Geographical Congress in 1910 it was conservatively estimated that Germany possessed 400 million tons actually in sight and very considerable re seizes, which, capitalised is a certain 1000 million sterling, plus an enormous sum which cannot accurately be estimated on reserves not in sight. ""~ 'Agsn'n, Germany has a world monopoly of potash salts—soluble potash being one of the most valuable and most necessary fertilisers known for grain,, roots, tobacco, potatoes and fruits. To potash and by-products of phosphoric iron ore Germany's great agricultural prosperity and the gigantic annual increase in her crops over the last two decades are largely due. It is used also in leading industries, such aa tho making of soap, earthenware and glass, iron smelting, and for. a long list of I valuable, productions which includes saltpetre', coal-tar dyes, chloride of lime, bromine and soda. [ In the year before "the war the exports of these salts from Germany amounted to ten million pounds a year; | The "whole world wants potash and the [ co-related salts, particularly for agri- [ culture. Accessible potash in Germany to-day is estimated at between 40 and 50 millions. At 10s a ton—a very low price indeed—there again is a. capital value of at least, and probably much more than £20,000,000,000. Why, on such an estimate of Germany s potential wealth, whatever the state of her bank coffers or tho Imperial Treasury, should she be excused indemnities? On these three of her natural productions she has natural wealth greatly under-ostimated in the foregoing at — - r, , £ Coal 170.000,000,000 iron i-,ooa,CK)oiono Potash £0,000,000,000 Total ... 191,000,000,000 In that lies Germany's means to pay .off the financial disabilities imposed by I her on the Allied nations through her ruthless attack on freedom and civilisation, and in it also lies the curb by ■which the Allies can, prevent "Junkerdom ' from disturbing the world's ■peace at any future time. - An ..inter-Allied conference mierht be appointed, when Gorman- is beaten, to sit permanently in Germany, controlling the indemnities she lias to pay. 'raxes might be imposed on hoi- exports of all kinds, and particularly might a tax be levied on her coal, iron ore and potash on the bases cf "per •nmed ton." ' i CAN EASILY PAT. .There is plenty in ■Germa.nv to par "he great uebt she owes to the Allies and to the world. Her potash mines might be controlled by- the hi-h contracting Powers, and her Btat- rail-i ways be turned to the iinsmc-hl -t-nn-taga of the Allies -t.nn-j o Tho Allies can' no lon-r consider ■uercwus and G-ennnn asoii: a t.i»:is. They are outside the pale of co«*ulo™tion. liie Overseas Dominica Parliaments ■tu'le of lft¥Sv" H°! and th- ;Vtti~ States, and the" vast 4cl> of opinion^ ■this country has stiffened oreatlv of late as this European cnormitv proiw, V - Cl°Se ovw tho of undeserved loss and suffcrh"r to thov Avho are left. Therefor- I -T v S" aflora to do so. .\ lfl u e Gfvmauv pay, hoc V ), lso sho deserves the wnxiilmwti. Jjhien ynK a heavy ind^snitv. can inJij.Cu. ' *" j Make f>-i-many pay n--; ih« i-o«-+i derive footer if,-crippli,^ wiiitarUm i a-^ner adventures in tho f u w. j lhiw, and t!ius enh- — n ■•!,,„. ~,.^-. debt to hiunanity bo aion-d'f.'.r'uPniv taiupblo- deprno and her W«r ovil