Evening star., 1923-08-12
DETERMINED STEPS
IN RUHR HELD VITAL.
Seven Months of Passivity
Have Brought Condition
,3:. 'z. Requiring Action.
- BY ANDRE TARDIEU,
Former French High Comm 'ssiOner to
rfs the United States.

F0rmer French High Comm 'sSiOner to
rfs the United States.
BY Cable TO The Star.
PARIS, August live are in a
world of almost unbelievable unreal
ity. The pound sterling is worth
more than 22,000,00U marks The
Ruhr is a paralyzed beehive, where
workmen aRe paid for doing nothing
England's government, with admira-
blsEfrankness, announces that it has
no; o;idea what it will do next. The
French and Belgian governments have
letit become known that they are so
ing to consult on measures to make
the Ruhr pay-after. seven months
occupation. It's topsy -turvy land.
In other words, the whole world has
reIapSed into permanent paSSiVitS
When the writer made this statement
tour or five months aSo nobody be-
lieped it. Today doubt is impossible
GefnanS'S passive resistance; France
and Belgium's occupations; Britain's
passive hesitation-all are worthy
mates. No government attempts to
pass from pasS!veness to action. No
body gives up hope that the o-noth-
ing policy Will succeed better than a
do o.anything policy
BGIdwin's Cabinet Divided.
However. a certain fraction of Eng-
liSh opinion seems TO be waking up.
InloniSt circles are taking issue with
the tinanCiers and are expressing the
opinion that France, after all. is right
in insisting on being paid and Eng
land should help instead of hinder
ThHre is Il disagreement within the
cabinet OF Premier Baldwin leading
to a curious inability to make deci
sionS on the simplest matters, an ex-
-N1a of - tph L. flN.a rNCra hns 70
ton to publish the diplomatic docu-
ments for which the press has been
crying for whole month. If France
and Belgium could achieve something
positive in the Ruhr they would be
the masters of the situation.
Since the armiStiCe all victor coun-
tries have thought they were acting
cleYerly by trying to organize victory
operation of others. The Anglo-SaX-
uns loudly demanded the return to
free competition but with unfortu-
nate results. The French thought
they could manage their immense re-
construction problems without for
rIgn aid, and thus keep business at
home. The Belgians. too. have play
ed a, lone hand; basing the policy Of
marks priority which the treaty gave
them. Everybody has lost by these
tactics and now everybody is trying
to repair the damage. II Will not be
easy. as they now see,
Harding's Denth n Blow.
Hardng's sudden death. which
aroused all Frances sympathy, will
not help this common work. Less
than %ear before the party conYen-
tionS. Coolidge can hardly take
long view of policy. and the elections
Will. in America s everywhere else.
necessarily bring d long period Of in
action. When democracy reneWs
its political personnel II is inclined
to-look within rather than without
for issues. and so for the next eight
cen months there is small chance
that the United States will furnish
any impetus to Europe's stalled mo-
tor. More than ever the writer is
forced to conclude that before look
ing to America for help. Europe must
put her own house in order.
And Tor this let us consult psychol-
oRists before we consult experts
Nickham Steed, former editor OF the
London Times. wrote the other day
that what Europe lacks is mutual
confidence and without conference
English blame the French for the
commercial crisis expected next win
ter. The French blame the British
for the francs decline. How, IN such
conditions. can anybody be so apsuru
as 10 talk about an immense loan 10
Germany?
dies: First. a Franco Belgian decision
10 make. the occupation OF the Ruhr
pay: and second, decision by Eng
land to tell Germany she must pay
willingly If these two condltohS
are fulfilled all hope is not lost.