The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1923. THE HOHENZOLLERN FACTOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1923, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1923. THE HOHENZOLLERN FACTOR.

The re-entry of the ex-Crown Prince into Germany marks another phase of the difficulties which face the Allies in regard to the situation under the Versailles Treaty. The step is one that should not come as surprise, any more than its theatrical accompaniments, for the reason that the chief actor in the drama has made no secret of. his ultimate intention of making a bid for the Kaisership when a favorable opportunity offered. Apparently the coup d’etat in Bavaria presented this opportunity, and although it fizzled out, it may be that the Monarchists have made it known * that the presence of the ex-Crown Prince on the spot, as a rallying centre, would make all the differ- • ence between failure and success. What is difficult to comprehend is . how the German Government was prevailed upon to consent to the return of this firebrand, unless it was as a lever for further defiance of the Allies, whose demands for a renewal of the close supervision of all German factories and possible munition plants was intensely resented. Amid all the turmoil of violent events that have been taking place recently German internal operations have been allowed to escape that close supervision which is imperative if another war is to be prevented, and it is certainly time that thorough inspection was reintroduced. German defiance and evasion have no limits, and though her passive resistance in the Ruhr has been broken, it is beyond all doubt that it will find other outlets. Whatever may be the object of the German Government in allowing the ex-Crown Prince to emerge from his obscurity in Holland and become once more a factor in his country’s troubles, the excuse put forward as to his right as a German citizen to return thither is wholly unacceptable. Holland is equally callous, recognising no duty to keep the younger Wilhelm there and declining to treat the matter except from the viewpoint of the Dutch law, and in no way coming within international law. Evidently that attitude is equally applicable in the ease of the ex-Kaiser, but it is unlikely the Allies will trouble much ovey Holland’s stand in th matter. It is even stated that they will ignore the ex-Crown Prince’s movements until they denote that he is taking steps to restore the monarchy, when it will most likely be too late to exercise preventive measures . without recourse to armed force. It must be absolutely plain to the meanest intelligence that the exKaiser’s son has gone back to his country for one purpose alone — to restore the monarchy—especially as it seems to be understood that the great War Lord , himself is, for the time be- i

ing at least, willing to play second, fiddle to his son, probably in the hope that it may pave the way for his own return to the Imperial throne. If this view does not commend itself to Britain there can be no doubt it will to France, who will certainly not be expected to stand with folded hands and regard with equanimity the revival of the menace which the Great War was supposed to have obliterated for all time. It must be remem-, bered that Germany is in desperate straits, and the prospect of dismemberment is a great tax on her powers of endurance. Possibly jhe ex-Crown Prince may flatter himself with , playing the part of the. Great Napoleon; it is a role that would appeal strongly to his imagination—except as to the finale. For centuries France and Germany have invaded each other’s countries. Alternating victory has produced an excess of triumphant exultation which has implanted in the breasts of the vanquished a fierce determination to achieve restitution and re venge. That is why, at the close of the Great war in 1918, the Allies were imbued by a new spirit of moderation in the hour of victory, the embodiment of which is seen in the creation of the League of Nations. The war was won by the process of international collaboration, for which the League stands. Would it not, therefore, be fitting, in view of the latest developments in Germany, to make use of the machinery of the League for the purpose of securing a settlement of all outstanding matters with Germany, and from putting an end to the m'aehinations of the Hohenzollerns and their supporters!