Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-04
FRANCE SEES NEED
| OF GERMAN GOODS
Not Seeking Teutons' Eco
nomic Ruin, But Insists
Treaty Be Observed.
BY PAIL SCOTT MOWRER.
By Cable to The Star and Chicago
Daily News. Copyright. 1920.


PARIS. May 3.-France does not de-
sire Germany's economic ruin France
realizes as well as any one that Ger
many's prosperity is necessary to the
prosperity of Europe. Premier Millerand
has made these statements in public
several times, and has even said that
he was ready to open economic neso-
tiations with Germany under certain
conditions. The following details of
the French governments economic
policy toward Germany are from an
authoritative source:
In the first place Germany must
diSarm. must cease discrimination
against France. abandon its present
attitude of tragic desperation" and
treaty in good faith. AS soon as this
disposition becomes apparent the
french government will be only too
glad to open negotiations for the
mutual benefit of both countries. and
will make the necessary concessions
even to the point of modifying some
of the treaty's economic clauses.
Needs Gernany's Production.
Premier Millerand realizes perfectly
that the world needs German produc-
tons. that German workmen must bc
given employment to rescue the coun-
try from continued disorders that thu.
present situation in which France
ana Germany are glazing at each
other like China dogs is impossible
and that real peace must be inaugu-
rated. France. indeed. is more inter-
ested than any other country in estab-
fishing lasting peace with Germany.
nut at the present time not only is
Germany expressing reluctance to
execute even those clauses Of the
treaty which are easily executable,
but is waging a little commercial
war against France in defiance Of
the Versailles treaty, which provided
that for several years Germany shall
treat all the allies commercially on
imports the method devised by Ger
many for discriminating against
France Is first to establish an abso-
lutte prohibition of all imports. and
then granting special import licenses
to certain individuals or groups ex-
elusive of the French.
In the matter of exports the Ger
man government has. it is alleged, re-
peatedly interfered to keep German
exporters from fulfilling their con-
tracts with French buyers or to dou-
bic or triple the contract prices. The
French ministry of commerce con-
siders that Germany is still carrying
out her wartime policy OF endeavor-
ing to cripple French industries which
she began by the systematic destruc-
ton OF the French factories in the
| north. Thus. it is alleged. the French
silk industry is being Disseminated
against in favor of the Italian.
Moreover. lumber contracted for I'm
Baden by Alsatian sawmflls was with
held by the German government and
sold to Swiss Intermediates, who in
! turn sold to the Alsatian mills at a
greatly increased cost. Premier Mil
i"rand considers that these violations
OF the treaty are matter concerning
all the allies and intends to raise the
issue in the near future so as to have
the CiScrimiD fiopq atonnod Thop
once Germany disarms and begins to
try to observe the treaty, NJ. Millerand
! is ready to go farther. He is ready
to negotiate directly and reach an I'M
derstanding advantageous to both
France and Germany.
Willing to Make Exchanges.
For example. in the matter Of pot
now jointly controlled by France and
Germany, France is willing to ex-
change phosphates for chemical prod
uchs. iron for coal and to furnish
raw stuffs to German factories In re
turn for certain per cent Of the out
put. Thus the German steel mills
could be given French iron to make
plates with which France can build
ships. Another possibilit envisaged
is that of France placing premiums
on the increased production of Ger
man coal so that the German mine
owners and miners will have a real
interest in delivering coal indemnities
to France.
If. however. the Germans refuse to
change their present attitude France
will retaliate. 1t is doubtful IL the
German industries can get along. for
example, without the French iron.
which lately has been freely supplied
to them. Premier Millerand Is sin
cerely disposed to lay foundations of
a real peace, with Germany il Ger
many will disarm and observe the
treaty. 1t is simply up to Germany
At the same time France wishes it
understood that she has no intention
of ultimately discriminating against