THE COUNCIL OF FOUR


By the putting into force of the Territorial Clauses of the Treaty of
Peace, Germany would lose to the East the most important regions
for the production of corn and potatoes, which would be equivalent
to the loss of 21%o of the total crop of those articles of food. More-
over, the intensity of our agricultural production would diminish con-
siderably. On the one hand, the importation of certain raw material
indispensable for the production of Manure, such as Phosphates, would
be hindered, on the other hand, this industry would suffer like all
other industries from lack of coal. The Treaty of Peace provides for
the loss of almost a third of the production of our coal mines. Apart
from this decrease, we are forced for ten years to deliver enormous
consignments of coal to various Allied countries.
Moreover, in conformity with the Treaty, Germany will concede to
her neighbours nearly three quarters of her mineral production, and
more than three fifths of her zinc production.
After this diminution of her products, after the economic depression
caused by the loss of her Colonies, of her merchant Fleet, and of her
possessions abroad, Germany would not be in a state to import from
abroad a sufficient quantity of raw material. An enormous part of
German industry would therefore inevitably be condemned to destruc-
tion. At the same time, the necessity of importing food stuffs would
increase considerably, whilst the possibility of satisfying that demand
would diminish in the same proportion.
At the end of a very short time, Germany would, therefore, not
be in a position to give bread and work to her numerous millions of
inhabitants, who would be reduced to earning their livelihood by
navigation and by trade. These persons would have to emigrate, but
that is a material impossibility, all the more so because many countries
and the most important ones will oppose any German immigration.
Moreover, hundreds of millions [thouwands] of Germans expelled from
the territories of the Powers now at war with Germany, from the
Colonies and territories which Germany must surrender, will return to
their native land.
The putting into execution of the conditions of Peace would, there-
fore, logically bring about the loss of several millions of persons in
Germany. This catastrophe would not be long in coming about, seeing
that the health of the population has been broken down during the
War by the Blockade, and during the Armistice by the aggravation of
the Blockade of famine.
No help, however important, or over however long a period it might
be distributed, would prevent these deaths "en masse". Peace would
impose on Germany numberless human sacrifices that this War of
four years and a half did not demand of her, (1,7505000 killed, nearly
1,000.000 dead, victims of the Blockade).
We do not know, and indeed we doubt, whether the Delegates of the
Allied and Associated Powers realise the inevitable consequences
which will take place if Germany, an industrial State, very thickly
populated, closely bound up with the economic system of the world
and reduced to the obligation to import enormous quantities of raw
material and food stuffs, suddenly finds herself pushed back in the
phase of her development which would correspond to her economic
condition and the numbers of her population as they were half a
century ago.


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