Evening star., 1923-05-13
HOLDS UP
DEBATE ON RUHR
Tardieu Says Parliament
Finds General International
Situation Unchanged.
BY ANDRE TARDIEU,
Former French High Commissioner to
America.

America.
By Cable to The Star.
PARIS. May 12-Pariiament. recon
vening, has found the general situa-
ton. so far as international questions
go. unchanged. Political developments
in Rome and London have made 1t ad-
visable to postpone for the time being
the planned debate on the Ruhr. The
unanimity between the allies in the
rejection of the German note was a
hopeful sign.
The situation in the Ruhr scarcely
has changed. but the entire diplo-
matte outlook requires explanation.
Everybody. even in London. admitted
the latest German proposal was un-
would have preferred that Paris and
Brussels consult with London and
Rome before making their reply.
This was emphasized in advance, but
the mutual recriminations Of the
press of both sides prevented.
Wrangle Over Procedure.
This wrangling over procedure
| leaves me cold. The English say the
reparationS question interests all Ger
| many's creditors. SO, France and Bel
gium must not act alone. The Franco
Belgtans say reparations is dominated
by the Ruhr occupation. which Eng
land refused to aid So they talk and
talk and get no further.
The truth is that while France and
Belgium perceive their Ruhr action
suffers because 1t was not the joint
work OF the allies, England likewise
Is beginning to see the disadvantages
OF not assoctating herself therein.
No matter how many plans and pro-
grams are proposed you always get
back TO the basic alternative. The
French and Belgians. on the one side.
are determined-in fact, obliged-to
do everything possible to force Ger
many to execute her engagements
The British. on the other side. are
less determined. because they are
less driven by necessity.
This being so. 1t is useless trying
to express. in common. ideas which
are so widely divergent. Some Eng
lish papers are talking about a con-
would be invited. but such a con-
ference could accomplish nothing. II
also might complicate interallied re-
lattons. Inasmuch as France and
Belgium understook the Ruhr adven-
ture alone. the least the others can
do Is to give them time to make op-
Grafton productive. But meanwhile
they, also. should do all in their
rower to bring this about. something
they have not done to date.
AS l write I received the French
budget Of recoverable expenditures
for 1923, withs the complete figures
OF our reparatoins expenses TO the
end of 1922. 1t shows $4,000 .0O0, 900
francs In pensions. 54.000,0 ,000, ,O0O for
reconstruction. $500, 100000 for oc-
cupation, 7oo.000.000 advanced Ger
many under the Spa agreement, H.
5oo.0o0.o0O for interest-more than a
hundred billion. whereof Germany
has not paid more than six billions
That is the situation facing France
and Belgium which prohibits their
land finds so easy at the moment
when she is able to reduce her in.
come tax. The Continentals and An.
glo -Saxons are in such different po-
sltlons one may ask whether ar
agreement between them even will
be possible.
The conclusion? Let France and
Belgium succeed at all costs in theil
| present enterprise and Germany ac'
cept their conditions with guarantee,
of execution. We are asked: "Wha
conditions? What guarantees?" TIL,
conditions are known. acceptance o.
schedule of actual payments. AS fol-
the guarantees l can imagine only
fiscal industrial and commercial con
troll of occupied territories which
would suffice to guarantee the amount
Hits German Attitude.
But neither condition can be full
| filled so long s Germany maintain
her passive resistance role. Conse
Quently cessation of this should b,
demanded, not alone by France ant
Belgium. but by all of the nation.
| which desire the end of the occupa
uons.
1 am persuaded that a better or
ganized occupation would produc,
| this result. Germany now Is hit, bu
not conquered. because she has sue
dnd IN, In hA p,,hr
| ductive to the allies. When the RUIN
becomes productive Germany will b,
| forced to demand peace. This solu
| tion Is in the hands OF the Paris anc
| Brussels government, and won't b.
! hastened by sending joint allied note!
wherein ambiguous language woult
| conceal the disagreement over fun
| damentai ideas.