Evening star., 1921-05-22

factories. might be executed We should con-
slider the direst possibilities. but think that
recent reports Justify hopeful expectations. 1t
may even be true, as n. Witos told tho Polish
diet on the 18th. that the efforts OF the Polish
government to calm Upper Siesia nave met
with success" Tho general strike ended The
workmen have resumed work and In some dis
tricts complete pacidcation has been enected.
Pacihcation would be complete It the insur-
rectionists did not fear attack by Germans
assembling on the Oder. As to these Germans.
flying rumor and panic fear may have exager-
ated their numbers and Intentions At all
events. to outward show the German govern
ment Is acting with great restraint and common
sense.
amuse myself with the idea that in the
sequel 1t may be Acknowledged even by the
British that Gen. Lerond has handled the Kor-
fanty business with a sort Of humorous wisdom.
He predicted when the trouble staRted. that It
would peter out If dealt with patiently and tact
fully. It seems to have petered out, with less
destruction Of life and property than could have
been expected under any other method Of
handling. I can't help wishing. however. that
England, would rdo her duty" and send some
troops
So end this discussion of q difficult matter
on a note Of optimism. should warn the
reader. however. that my Interpretation Of the
cloudy dispatches may be wrong.
GERMANY-The German government has
asked that the penalties put in operation in
March Occupation Of Dusseldorf, Duisburg and
Ruhrort the Rhine customs barrier) be lifted.
The British government is agreeable; the
French would await substantial earnest Of
fulnllment Of tho London program
If reports are to believed. DR.. Wirth. the
German chancellor. Is setting about the first
necessary measures towards fulfllment Of the
London program with extraordinary energy.
good will and sagacity. The most serious prob
lem is disarmament of Bavaria. Herr Brett
scheid, the Independent socialist (who by the
way. looks like a coming mani. can think Of
only one way to procure disarmament of
Bavaria, which is for the socialist workmen Of
the Ruhr basin to refuse coal to Bavaria
cept on condition Of disarmament. In such
attitude they would be supported by the in
dustrial workmen Of Bavaria Ruhr coal is
absolutely essential to the Industrial life Of
Bavaria.
"a report just arrived from Berlin states
that tho Bavarian government has decided to
dsarm. The report requires deal Of con-
hrmation)
GREAT BRITA1N-Dispatches predict end
ing Of the miners strike in the future.
There have been sundry informal CONVERSATIONS
between miners leaders, mine owners and rep
resentatives Of government Lloyd George is
awaiting q suitable moment to suggest
formal negotiation. 1t IL said that Frank
Hodges. the miners secretary. now favors a
settlement based wage schedules alone, leav-
ing the grand issues Of national pool Of profits.
ETC., to the future. Such settlement could
only be temporary; which fact fnds recognition
in the proposal of great coal trust to amalga-
mate the 1.400 companies now operating 5000
mines The objections to great monopoly
are obvious and lethal: but the line Of thought
is correct. Amalgamation by areas is the
compromise solution which, I think, may be
expected.
The meeting Of the executive committees Of
the railwaymen and transport workers. from
which declaration Of a sympathetic strike was
feared. resulted in nothing moro dreadful than
issuance Of new and sterner orders not to handle
imported or "black-leg' coal. These orders are
being only very partially obeyed Mr.. Lloyd
George is having little difficulty about supply
ing the coal required for public utilities Vanity
is indeed mans ruling passion. 1t appears that
II the miners should receive proposal couched
in such terms as to save their face" they
would probably grab at it. The federation is
nearly bankrupt; hope Of a sympathetic strike
by their brethren Of the triple alliance has