Evening star., 1923-02-02
German Labor's Appeal.

American Congress for intervention
in the Ruhr controversy has two pri-
mary faults which stand in the way
of official consideration of the merits
of the question. The first is that the
appeal comes from the wrong source,
and the second is that it is directed to
the wrong authority. Before this gov
ernment could take cognizance of a
request for intervention the request
would have to come from the German
government, not from a body Of Ger
man private citizens. And any proffer
of the good offices of the United States
would have to be made by the execu-
tive, not the legislative, branch of the
government.
Should the Berlin government,
through regular diplomatic channels,
ask this government to intervene as
mediator for settlement of the eco
nomic warfare in the Ruhr, there is no
reason TO doubt that the government
would respond favorably, at least to
the extent of inquiring whether .
tender Of good offices would be ac-
ceptable to France, Belgium and Italy.
Should such an inquiry be made and
the responses be unfavorable that, Of
course, would end the matter, for an
adjustment through mediation Is i'm
possible unless both parties are will
ing to submit to mediation. The proper
course for the German workers to pur-
sue, therefore, is to present their case
to Chancellor Cuno and ask him to ap-
peal to the American State Depart.
ment.
The German workers probably in
tended to appeal more to the public
opinion of America than to the Con-
gress of the United States. From that
viewpoint their argument is open to
unofficial examination to determine
| what influence it should properly have
on the views of the American people
with respect to the controversy. Much
is made of the contention that it was
upon Americas assurance Of Justice
that Germany instituted democracy
and submitted to disarmament. How
much sincerity there is in that argu-
ment may be left to individual opinion.
! but the obvious fact is that Germany,
| being unable to continue the war,
made peace on the best terms obtain
able, and to procure that necessary
peace Germany signed the treaty OF
Versailles. Whether all the provisions
| of that treaty were wise and just 1t is
not now necessary to discuss. Ger
| many signed the treaty and was bound
1 to try in good faith to carry out its
| provisions This Germany has not
/ done. And the thing Of which Ger
many complains today, the occupation
| OF the Ruhr, Is the result not of Ger
| nlany's inability to execute the treaty
but of Germany's unwillingness to try
\ honestly to execute it. All the pro-
testations Of all the German people
! cannot alter that fundamental fact. Sc
| it would be well for the Germans, be.
! fore they talk of how American
! "honor" is involved. to have regard
! for the fact that Germany has failed tc
| meet her own solemn engagements.
Naturally the picture of hungry
| women and children is calculated to
appeal to the sympathies of Ameri'
| cans, but sight must not be lost Of the
fact that starvation of the Ruhr in
| habitants is no part Of the French
| program. If there Is hunger in the
Ruhr it is because the German rail-
| way workers refuse to transport food
| stufrs which are available. The appeal
i is, In fact, only another instance OF
the utter inability Of the Germans to
understand the psychology Of other
| peoples. Rendering the arrogance OF
| the Germans when they believed them
! selves the victors, the world will have
| to see in them in defeat little more
/ of real humility before there is any
great outpouring Of sympathy because
\ of their present unhappy state.