The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-01-22

States. Millions of mon and women
are out Of work in the british
Isles because there Is no market
Tor what they were accustomed
10 produce. and there can bp no
market until European order is
restored. The Engllshman there
forc secs Europe as n market
wherein he must trade 10 live
ana he sees the paralysis now cN-
istinR as the cause of the most
acute industrial crisis in his his
tory.
When the Englishman talks about
restoring Europe. starting the
wheels OF the world again. he is
thinking of that restoration I'm terms
or English necessities. He is con-
scious of the fact that delay in this
restoration has brought upon him
sufferings OF very acute sort lie
" not concerned with any Circum-
stances affecting the German. lie
simply and frankly wants to get the
German situation straightened out
because II means work for himself
food for his family and termina-
tlon or three years of grave hard
ship following nearly five years OF
agony incident to the war.
Now the Frenchman's situation is
fN''' uilltItut. Inc absence OF the
German market does not affect him
He does not desire to sell in the
German market; he does not need
restored Russia as a source Of cheap
1000. What he needs is the rcpa-
ratlons sums owed him by the Ger
man. 1t he gets them he can nay
the cost OF rebuilding his devastated
area, the debts which he owes his
allies, and recorder his own domestic
financial situation. There is abso-
lutely no profit for him to be found
IN the mere restoration of Germany
to economic health and prosperity.
Therefore, the Frenchman says
TO the world and has said IL very
consistently from the moment OF the
opening of the Paris conference.
onward: III Germany is to be re-
stored because the restoration ad-
vantagcs Great Britain, the United
states, Italy. then restoration must
not be at the expense OF France. II
is alleged that Germany has been
asked to pay more than she can
pay. We don't believe it. Even you
agree that Germany is willing to pay
less and very much less than she
can pay How are you going to
guarantee that she will pay any
thing that she can get out Of or
protect France from the German
exploitation Of the English desire
to get the wheels Of English indus
try turning again?
The Third Factor
Here you touch the third factor
IN the situation, the German factor.
The German believes that he can
escape all payment because he per-
ceives that self-interest must lead
Great Britain and Italy-and the
United states only to less less de-
gree--to work for German economic
rehabilitation. He is resorting to
every known device to reduce and
evade his payments. He is seeking
in every possible way by propa-
ganda and otherwise to infiame
English, Italian and American
opinion against France. lie is
openly defiant where he dares. and
secretly plotting where defiance is
inadvisable. He shows one fact 10
the Frenchman and another 10 the
knglishman.
Now, though somewhat roughly
sketched, you have the situation.
England urges upon France a poll
icy with respect to Germany which
advantages England and helps the
German, but makes no real pro-
vision for France. France advocates
"A policy toward Germany which
spells ruin for England. hardship
for Italy and discomfort for the
United states. France asks of har
recent associates Ia the war either
that to leave her free to act against
Germany or to undertake to guar
antee German performance under
the terms of the treaty Of Versailles.
So far IL has proven perfectly i'm
possible to find a basis Of agree
ment or of compromise and the eX-
PLANTATION Is fairly simple. ~ "
found I'm the fact that Great Britain
and practically every other nation
which signed the treaty Of Versailles
except France sees its interests now
from a different point OF view from
what 1t did three years ago,
The treaty Of Versailles continues
to be law Under the treaty OF Yer
saille and in return for specific
concessions on tho French part the
allies of France agreed that France
should receive certain things. The
sum total of reparations was agreed
upon tentatively ~ Paris II wac
definitely fixed in May, 1891, after
long delays and much discussion
and the French claims We're there
fore sanctioned and the French
right to payment in the fixed |
amount established as the law Of
Europe.
Germany Bankrupt Now.
Now Germany has become bank |
rupt It Is probably true that the !
sums fixed at the May conference !
were excessive, hut they were fixed, |
and today France occupies the posi- |
ton Of creditor with a Just claim |
and the power 10 enforce that claim. /
But the truth a. that If she under ]
lakes to enforce that claim not I
only Germany but all OF her recent |
allies in the world war suffer. II /
is also true that resorting 10 fore" /
to collect the claim will not and 1
cannot lead to any large imme- |
diate payment. France can occu- /
py German territory. she can seize .
the cities and mines, but she cannot F
thereby increase the rate Of the
amount OF the Of German payment.