The sun., 1919-01-23

Bolshcvki who is in Paris declares
his belief that this action will be en-
tlrcly satisfactory to the Soviets. II
Is announced that NJ. Litvlnoff, the
Bolshevik ambassador" in London,
suggested in an indirect communica-
ton to Premier Lloyd George an in
vestigation Of this kind. Four anti
Bolshevik parties represented in Paris
have protested against such action,
but they have nothing but negative
plans to offer.
Payment of Debts Promised.
The information Of THE SuS is
that back of to-day's agreement is an
offer very recently made through NJ.
Litvinoff that the Soviets will take
measures to provide for the payment
of Russia's debts If they are rccog-
nized to this extent. More than
100000 Frenchmcn hold Russian
bonds; this offer. therefore. acted as
a powerful influence in obtaining n
hndrllnouS AGREEMENT.
The Russlan-Polish plan announced
to-day represents marked triumph
Of the moderate viewpoint here for
which President Wilson is standing
and In which he has had the cordial
cooperation Of Premier Lloyd George
ever since his visit to England.
Lifting of Blockade Not Certain.
The British apparently cannot see
any possibility OF complete peace at
this time. and the French seem to
agree with them. SO that this point
will have to be threshed out with
the Americans, whose view is that
Immediately after the peace treaty Is
signed Germany should have full
facilities to reestablish her business
ind industries.
A definite expression in regard to
the British Plan Is difficult to get,
since the matter has not yet come up
formally. 1t is not believed to be
their desire to maintain the blockade
with the same stringency as during the
war and as II is now, but the British
feeling is said to he that since many
British industries have been ripped
because of the war provoked by Ger
many it would be unfair to give the
Germans an opportunity to make a
fresh start from the same mark as
themselves.
II is noted also that the Germans,
however short of raw materials they
may be, have now better chance TO
get a good start in the redistribution
OF labor than the British. because
under the terms of the armistice the
Germans are demobilizing a large
number of troops Immediately the
British rehabilitation. although has.
tened as much as possible, must pro.
iced much slower.
There is some sccpticism in regard
to the German statement that fhat
country is forced by an unemploy
ment crisis. The Germans assert that
the stoppage of their war industries
have thrown millions out Of employ
ment, but the answer is made that
the greater part Of these millions are
allied prisoners of war and deported
Belgian, French and Polish workmen.
These now in the main have been re-
turned to their homes, although large
numbers of Russians and Poles re-
main in Germany.
II is said that II the Germans make
sincere effort to return these re-
manning prisoners as soon as possible
10 their homes they could then find
work, with a little management, for
every German who wanted It. The
British find It strange that Matthias
Erzberger is asking continually for the
return of the German prisoners In the
hands OF the Allies If Germany is I'M
able TO md work or food for those
now within her own borders.
France Would he Handicapped.
France will be greatly handicapped
IN the economic competition after the
Wal Oy the ueNdsldtlOT wrought Dy inc
Germans in the northern part Of the
country. The complete wiping out OF
the city Of Lens and the Gripping OF
its coal mines for some years IS seri-
Gus. and this is but one instance. The
nations whole industrial life has been
Iiisjointed, and this largely influences
the French attitude.
A large commission of American
army engineers now is appraising the
damage done in France and Belgium
for the information OF President VII
son; later these engineers will extend
thett work to Serbia and Poland.
Failure to admit Germany TO full
economic opportunities after the sign
ing OF the peace treaty naturally con-
f,icts with President Wilson'S ex-
pressed principal of mo war after the
war" and also with the American idea
that a partial lifting OF the blockade
is advisable even ~>w as strong
means of combating Bolshevism by
giving work as we'll as food to the
German workmen. However. the att!-
tude on both sides is conclliatory.