Evening star., 1923-01-08
FRENCH EXPERTS MOVE.
Engineers Leave for Dusseldorf
Preparatory to Ruhr Seizure.
BY PAIL SCOTT MoWRER.


By Cable TO The Star and Chicago Daily News.
! Copyright. 1923.
| PARIS January S.-Forty French
mining engineers were sent to Dussel-
dorf last night preparatory to taking
over the Ruhr coal mines when the
order TO act is given. Another group
of engineers leaves Paris today. Al
though the French still plan to limit
the military features of their move TO
the minimum. the army of occupation
is being reinforced by regiments both
of infantry and artillery from Lor-
raine.
The withdrawal of the American
troops from the Coblenz area at this
time, however, disguised IN extenuat-
ing speeches, would undoubtedly be
Interpreted as serious protest
against the French policy, and, per-
haps, even as the final severance OF
the United States from it's war time
associates and would painfully i'm
press French opinion, especially If 1t
should be interpreted by the Germans
as an encouragement to resistance.
Practically, however, an American
withdrawal would, if anything, be
helpful to the French for 1t would
enable them to occupy the Coblenz
bridge head without more ado and
would simplify the organization Of
their communications.
Entente Future Uncertain.
The reparations commission meets
this afternoon, to hear what the Ger
mans have to say regarding the de-
fault of some 2,500,000 tons OF the 1922
coal deliveries. The Germans We're
formally warned in this matter by the
reparations commission on September 5,
and have been reminded of lit repeatedly
since then. If the default has not been
proclaimed officially before now it is be
cause of the obstructionist attitude
within the commission of the British
delegate, Sir John Bradbury. But this
time the French will tolerate no further
postponements, and willful default will
doubtless be announced by the commits
sion within two or three days.
Despite continued protestationS of
friendship on the part of both of the
French and the British the future of
the entente is uncertain. If Great
Britain now leaves the French a free
with Britain for time at least, all
the funds collected from Germany and
doubtless will continue to collaborate
with her at Lausanne and elsewhere.
If, however, Great Britain continues
obstructionist tactics in the repara-
tions commission, If she tries to pro-
woke American Intervention against
France, If she contests the French
juridical case, If she tries to provoke
the Intervention of the league of ma
tions or If she attacks the franc in
the worlds money markets, then not
only will the money collected from
Germany be reserved for those who
collect 1t, but the French attitude at
Lausanne may be expected to change
in a sense unfavorable to Great
Britain.
To forecast what is about to happen
in Europe is, of course. impossible.
At the same time, one of the more
obvious possibilities in connection
with the intention Of the French to
act in the Ruhr may be envisaged as
follows:
After prolonged efforts and many
difficulties. the French may find the
idea of forcing payments from Ger
many to be impracticable. Disillu-
stoned, they may then withdraw their
troops and officials and resume nego-
tiations with the British on the basis
of something like the British repara-
tions plan. Obviously this is what
the British hope will happen, but the
writer considers 1t rather unlikely.