The Waikato Times With which is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1932. THE VERSAILLES TREATY.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18652, 2 June 1932, Page 6

The Waikato Times With which is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1932. THE VERSAILLES TREATY.

The information that Dr. Bruening and his Cabinet have resigned is a further step in Germany’s repudiation of the Versailles Treaty. The steps which have led to this action seem to be that the Chancellor applied to the President for authority to impose an increased unemployment levy. This Is opposed by the workers who hold that the wealthy should pay. The Chancellor asks the assurance of the President that he (the President), will support the Chancellor’s policy, but Marshal von Hindenburg hesitates to give it. It is clear that the strength of the Hitlerites is growing. It could not be otherwise when we consider the strength of his two main points. He would abolish reparations entirely, and he would have Germany armed on an equality with France- His programme includes a variety of foolish and mischievous ideas, but these two points have an irresistible appeal to Germans. Against them Dr. Bruening can only put forward an appeal that these same points shall be attained in a constitutional and orderly manner. This was Dr. Stresemann’s policy and it was to some extent successful, for it led to the Locarno Agreement and to Germany Joining the League of Nations. It might have continued to succeed but for two things. The collapse of prices plunged Germany into distress and made the payment of reparations Impossible, and then the refusal of France to reduce her own armaments or permit any increase in those of Germany. The Hitler Party is the inevitable response to the happenings of the last two years. Germany to-day is in a wretched condition. There are 0,000,000 unemployed with their dependents. The scale of relief is miserably small. Last year there were 28,000 suicides. Her -customers are largely in the East of Europe, and they are unable -to pay for what they have already purchased and unable to buy more. There are Communist riots In some of their -towns, although Communism is not a form of rebellion that appeals to Germans. It is quite evident that civil government is on the verge of a breakdown. The collapse of -the Danubian countries which will be notified at the end of June will be another blow to Germany and will take place while the Lausanne Conference is sitting and where France will insist on her refusal to cancel reparations, just as she refuses at Ihe Disarmament Conference to reduce her army. Politically and economically the world is at present held up by France

On the authority given her by the Versailles Treaty, and the only. way to remove the curse is to repudiate the Treaty. It is easy to understand why leaders have been loath to suggest such a policy. It would seem like the removal of every landmark. But the time lias gone by to hesitate. The question now is whether the Versailles Treaty -shall be rewritten in an orderly and constitutional manner or whether Germany shall repudiate it at the risk of a European war. Germany will mot pay further reparations, and she will constitute an adequate armed force. She would have done so before but for fear of invasion from France. She has now reached a -stage of wretchedness which will lead her to defy the consequences, and these consequences may toe very terrible. A strict adherence to the Versailles Treaty has already brought us to economic disaster and If we persist in the adherence we shall reach political disaster. There is no moral obligation on the Germans to observe the treaty for they signed under duress and obviously the trend of politics and of circumstances in that country is In the direction of repudiation. It -calls for a certain amount of courage from our leaders, for Britain must obviously take the chief part, though she will be strenuously supported toy Italy. It may toe too soon to talk of repudiation of the treaty but until it takes place we shall see no improvement in economic conditions. The lack of confidence prevents any movement of money throughout the world. War debts, trade debts, and reparations prevent any movement of goods- The paradox -that the world suffers in the midst of plenty is -clear to everyone, and if we would break the bewitchment we must go to the original cause. The Versailles Treaty was what might have -been expected from leaders who had toeen thrown up at the close of a bitter and exasperating four years -Of warfare. There is no reason why the world -should regard it as of any special sanctity. The creation of. the League of Nations was the best thing it did and there is no reason why that should be -changed. For the rest, the sooner the Treaty is rewritten, the sooner we may hope to -escape from our political anxieties and our economic distresses.