Wairarapa Daily Times [Established 45 Years.] TUESDAY, APRIL, 20, 1920. POSITION IN GERMANY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 141001, 20 April 1920, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established 45 Years.] TUESDAY, APRIL, 20, 1920. POSITION IN GERMANY.

The position iu Germany to-day has some resemblance to that which arose in the early monftis of 19-19, but it differs -in two important particulars. In 1919 the hands of the Government, were relatively stronger. In quelling the ■ Spurtacus movement it could command thi) support of the bulk of the German army which had not yet been demobilised!! It had nothing to fear from any reactionary movement; the revolution was fresh in the minds .of all; many of the most prominent members of the old regime were in* exile or in hiding, and no attempt to restore the monarchy or to declare a dictatorship after the, fashion of Kapp~and von Luttwitz was at.that time to be .expected. The Government couhTconecntrate the whole of its strength the rebels; it could (and did) suppress the outbreak with the sword, confident that it would have the backing of the majority of the people whatever the measures it adopted. But iu the interval much has happened to weaken the Government. It can hardly be. blamed for accepting the Peace Treaty—acquiescence was inevitable —but its prestige was lowered thereby, while certain scandals in the administration had the same effect. Above all, the forces of reaction have had time to revive rfnu take advantage of the prevailing dissatisfaction. The coup of Kapp and Luttwitz had only a short-lived success, Tmt the mere fact that it was undertaken was significant. It argued the existence of a movement which was awaiting its chance, and few imagined that its nominal leaders w'ere its real ones. The general impression was that Kapp and Luttwitz were merely clearing the stage for more notable principals. Ebert ; ,s predicament, is an unenviable one. He must deal with the Rods and restore order in Germany as promptly as possible, while lie has no longer an otherwise united Germany behind him, but must be constantly on guard against a reactionary coup. No oue doubts that the reactionaries would find in Germany’s confusion a golden opportunity for re-estab-lishing themselves in authority. A fur- 1 ther element of perplexity for thd German Government is that its operations against the Reds have brought it into

collision with flic Allies, or, ~-.at an y ■ rate, with France. In 1919 the-Sparta-eus outbreak was soon disposed ot’ in the industrial districts of the west; the proximity of the Allied troops: op the Rhine perhaps had a sobering effect on the most turbulent spirits. But on this occasion it had assumed more serious proportions; a! strike has led to civ - il war, and Government troops have advanced into the zone access to which is forbidden by the Treaty. This clause of the Treaty, according to the interpretation placed on it by Germany, and apparently by Britain and America, does not contemplate an entry to suppress civil disorder, but France has such a conviction of Germany 's bad faith, and such, a lively fear of Germany’s renewed, aggression, that she has taken counter measures by occupying two important towns beyond the limits assigned to the Allied garrison. The strength of France’s suspicions of Germany is hardly appreciated by outsiders. The Franeo-Prussian war And the Great War have left . memories which will not be easily effaced. They coloured her attitude towards various questions arising at the Peace Com ference, and out of the League of Nations; possibly, in this case, they have led to some loss of her sense of perspective, for though this was a matter in which a common policy was desirable, she seems to have acted without consulting her Allies. The situation is described as "-delicate,” but it- is one which can right itself automatically. With the restoration of order there will be no further need for troops in the prohibited zone, and the French and the Germans can both withdraw.