San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-05

present visas exactly as though they
were a separate political entry.
French Currency Used.
.. French currency already is the
official currency of the Rhineland.
Railroad fares. postal fees and postal
customs duties must be paid in francs.
Hence it will be necessary for Rhine
landers to buy francs with marks.
incidentally boosting the franc and
depressing the mark still further The
first effort of this will be currency
shortage requiring the issue of more
French currency. Rhenish business
men are only too anxious to go on
a franc basis. so it is probable that
the franc will become the sole cur
rency in the Rlrineland and the Ruhr,
gradually displacing the mark alto
gether This will give France an OPP
portunity to expand her currency, for
the legitimate business needs of TO-
100000 more people, thus easing the
immediate financial position of the
French government without unjustifi.
able initiation.
8. The French and the Belgians
completely control the railroads and
supervise the postal and telegraph
services. They have made it clear
that they will not give up this con-
troll. They have announced that only
10000 of the former 10000 German
railway workers will be reinstatcd and
these only. if they will take an oath
before the occupation authorities. The
German government is permitting
them TO do so in order to avoid i'm
peding the resumption of negotiations
with France.
4. The French administer the GUS
toms. and the collection of export
duties just as though the Rhineland
were an independent nation.
5. The French have dissolved the
German state police and placed the
municipal police under French con-
troll. Policemen everywhere must
salute French officers as their super
iors.
French May Float Loans.
Thus, with currency, communica-
tons, customs and police all in their
sumo nearly alt of the important fac
tons of government. They can cas-
lily create Il customs union with
France, allowing a free or limited
exchange of goods between France,
Belgium and the Rhineland, and can,
by degrees. introduce French Gus
toms tariff between the Rhineland
and unoccnpied Germany, this COM
pletely annexing the Rhineland and
the Ruhr to France in an economic
sense. This, it is believed. will soon
come. They can leave the trouble
some, expensive functions of govern
ment. such as relief of the poor and
cleaning Of the streets to the local
German authorities.
In some circles it is predicted that
the French will guarantee loans float
ed by the municipal Authorities of
the region, thus obtaining an excuse
for complete financial supervision if
they so desire. 1t is difficult to see
what further control the French
could possibly desire. or how France
would benefit more if the Rhineland
and the Ruhr became an Independents
republic.
1t appears that the French are
thoroughly disgusted with the separat-
lists. whose leaders they regard as
incapable. and whose ranks contain
many plug uglies,- as was shown
last Sunday, when separatist gang
sters began shooting irresponsibly.
Finally, the present method avoids
the dangers of general strike and
sabotage which would accompany the
formal proclamation of republic. If
the present virtual separation con-
tinues, formal proclamation of re-
| public can come quietly later on.