Evening star., 1922-12-14
FRENCH ABANDON
RUHR SEIZURE AS
SHOWDOWN LOOMS
British Planned to Align U. S.
in Opposition to 0c-
cupation. .
HUGO SHINES FORCED
TO TALK STEEL MERGER
Huge Monopoly by Paris Bankers
and Germans May Stave Off
French Action,
nY PAUL SCOTT MOwRER.

Copyright, 1S...
PARIS, December 14.-Latest indi-
ratIons are that the French govern
ment has abandoned the idea of oc-
.upying the Ruhr basin.
The government believes that an
rcrcemcnt with the allies for new
GageS. notably in the I,hncland, is
possible and that if it is obliged to
take separate action. it believes that
pressure in the river ports of Ruhr-
i'"rt and Luisburg already under oc
cupation. will serve all practical pur-
poses
ReasOns for NnverinE.
The reasons for this wavering are as
follows:
!. The French as whole arc favor
ably impressed with the favorable atti-
tude of the British and Italian premiers
toward the French plight. NJ Mussolini
'"emed to hold with the French that the
German default was largely wilful and
Gcrmany must he forced to nay. II
'ho allies can suggest other equSl eff
.acious means of pressure France un-
doubt"dly Will consider them. Prime
Nnter Bonar Laws intimation that
treat Britain might be willing to ne
botfate reduction OF the G;erman debt
py cornrensatins the allied war debts
- also iaNo'abiy commented on here.
Reluctant to Act Alone.
:. More and more the French are re-
tuctant to act alone. AS their am is
not annexation or sabotage, blt political
::1d Economic pressure to make Germany
pay. they infinitely prefer to act with
;hc allies. French experts nearly all
predict perturbations in Germany in the
h"ar future due to tho collapse Of the
mark and the French do not desire to
be unjustly accused of having caused
these perturbations by separate action
Furthermore, the question is being
ralsed il the allies cannot exert all the
pressure needed by making more effica-
'T"uS use of the cages they already hold
specially the river ports OF Ruhrort
md Dulsberg.
New Turn In Position,
All this means that the fundamental
French position has not been chang ed,
but merely that it has been a new
and friendlier turn by the attitud. of
Great Britain and Italy. Franc. would
like to reach an agreement with the
allies for common rather than sepa-
rate action, if 1t is humanity. possible
Friday. NJ. Poincare will have to ex-
plain the situation before the cham
bcr of deputies following Il similar
depate in the British parliament to-
day. In sense the outcome may ue
said now to depend upon the cute orle
OF these two debates.
Premier Polncare's threat 10 occupy
The Ruhr basin apparently has had
one definite result. 1t is forcing 10
their knees the German industra!s
who have opposed reconciliation with
France
A meeting took place in Paris last
week between French and German
business. men for the purpose of
bringing about co-operation in the
steel trades. Even the formation of
gigantic trust for price regulation
was discussed. Before accepting the
conditions laid down the Germans
requested time to go home and talk
me matter over with Hugo SHINES,
1t is expected her" that the negotia-
tons will be resumed before Janu-
AIRY Is.
Tables Turned on Stiffness
Jules Bernard and Hugo SHINES
discussed d steel merger last summer.
But this is the first time that the
French steel trust has lent official
sanction to the project. Last weeks
meeting. according to the CORE
spondents' information, took place at
the headquarters OF the Banque de
Paris ct des Pays Bas. Horace Fin
lay, president of the bank. is supposed
to have acted as chairman.
Among the Frenchmen present are
Schneider, dc Wendell. Poncet and
Pinot. millionaircs. and among the
Germans. Firmann. kraemer and Sill
verbcrg, the first two being henchmen
of SHINES Schneider and de Wendell
are steel kings of France.
The French have hesitated to dis
cuss cooperation because they
thought the Germans had the upper
hand, but with occupation of the
Ruhr in sight, they have lost their
reluctance. The tables have been
turned and SHINES knows 1t. If the
French enter the Ruhr basin he will
be worse off than IL he comes into
voluntary agreement.
4 Franco-German steel combine
would virtually have a monopoly of
the European metallurgical market,
and probably would crowd out Great
Eritain. In the size of capital it
might even rival the United States
steel Corporation.
BRITISH WANT SHOWDOWN.