The German industrial magnates are to control the coal and
steel mines of Belgium and France, on the ground that this is essential to Germany's welfare and safety ; while to maintain the balance between agriculture and industry the lands in the annexed French and Russian territory must be planted with German settlers. Commerce must be rewarded with a war indemnity and commercial treaties on the most favourable terms, while the annexed areas—French, Belgian, and Russian—" must be so governed and administered that the inhabitants acquire no influence on the political destinies of the Empire." In short, as the Manchester Guardian puts it, they must be treated as helots. 64 Throughout the whole document there is not a word about culture, liberty, the interests of humanity, or any hint of idealism. It a programme of naked materialism, vast and shameless."
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