-20-
 
calculated, at some 18 1/2 billion RM. If we consider
 
that the preliminary estimate of the Reich Finance
 
Ministry, mentioned above, was on the whole probably
 
worded too cautiously (in the case of war taxes in
 
particular the estimate ought to be considerably sur-
 
passed by the actual collections), the amount going to 
 
the Reich may be rounded off at 19 billion RM.
 
     In comparison with the preliminary estimate of the
 
Reich Finance Ministry of late in March 1940, there is
 
a decidedly more optimistic estimate, which Deputy
 
Minister Reinhardt recently made public. According to 
 
it, we may expect, on the basis of the payments received 
 
so far, that the Reich taxes and customs duties will 
 
give a yield of as much as some 25 billion RM. With
 
such a favorable development of receipts from taxation 
 
and customs duties, the transfers would probably be 
 
somewhat higher, to be sure. According to this estimate, 
 
the Reich's share of the receipts from taxes and customs
 
duties would be calculated at about 21 billion RM. At
 
any rate, we may assume that it will remain within the 
 
bounds of the two estimates, that between 19 and 21
 
billion RM.
 
        The war levy of the States and Communes, estimated 
 
by the Reich Ministry of Finance at the end of March at