26

ESSAYS IN PERSUASION

PART

produce of other members of the Union. Ger-many, Poland , the new States which formerlycomposed the Austro-Hungarian and Turkish Empires, and the Mandated States should becompelled to adhere to this Union for ten years,after which time adherence would be voluntary.The adherence of other States would be volun-tary from the outset. But it is to be hoped thatthe United Kingdom , at any rate, would becomean original member.

By fixing the Reparation payments well withinGermany ’s capacity to pay, we make possiblethe renewal of hope and enterprise within herterritory, we avoid the perpetual friction andopportunity of improper pressure arising outof Treaty clauses which are impossible of fulfil-ment, and we render unnecessary the intolerablepowers of the Reparation Commission.

By a moderation of the clauses relatingdirectly or indirectly to coal, and by the ex-change of iron ore, we permit the continuanceof Germany ’s industrial life, and put limits onthe loss of productivity which would be broughtabout otherwise by the interference of politicalfrontiers with the natural localisation of theiron and steel industry.

ties not produced at home; (c) the imposition of customs dutieswhich did not exceed by more than five per cent a countervailingexcise on similar commodities produced at home; ( d ) exportduties. Further, special exceptions might be permitted by amajority vote of the countries entering the Union . Duties whichhad existed for five years prior to a country’s entering the Union might be allowed to disappear gradually by equal instalmentsspread over the five years subsequent to joining the Union .