"Jump, Germany!"

The Rector of Copenhagen University, Dr. Lauritz V. Birck, erudite Danish economist, spoke last week as follows:

"I think it would ease Europe considerably if Germany would make a jump into the abyss and declare that out of the Young Plan payments she will pay only $144,000,000, which is secured by the German national railroads' income, and no more. England, and particularly France, would begin to rattle their swords, but I doubt whether they would again occupy German territory. After a fortnight's rattling they would inform America they were unable to pay what they owe.

"It is ruining Europe to have Germany underbidding all markets. Neither is it desirable that German employers should make German workmen the world's coolies. The whole idea of the Young Plan is dangerous in the extreme. The Dawes plan could not have been carried through. The Young Plan, for the moment, gave Germany lighter burdens, but tried to fix this burden by transforming it from a debt to States into a debt to private people.

"I disagree with the German National Socialists [Hitlerites] in most things but in this matter they are right. They must break the Young Plan, and I think they will do it. The odd thing is that although the other countries will be angry at first at what will be termed Germany's 'breach of faith,' they will be satisfied in the end. It says in the Bible that one should love one's enemies, but it does not say one should love one's creditors."

Commented Copenhagen's Conservative Berlingske Tidende, organ of moneyed Danes:

"Dr. Birck ought to have remembered Fontenelle's words: 'If I held the truth in my closed hand, I should well beware to open it.'"

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