The Washington times., 1923-02-18
special. cable DI.pa.ch.

LONDON, Feb. 17.-There are
two points Of special political in-
terest to which the eyes Of the
civilized world are now turned
the Ruhr and the Near East.
There is, in spite Of the distance
which separates these places, very
important and forceful connection
between them since success in both
depends upon a united front of
the allies.
In q recent article / foretold some
+of the difficulties which might, be
raised to French occupation of the
Ruhr. feared the French govern
ment frequently moderated them.
1t is matter Of regret that my pre-
dtctions have come true. I never
realized, however, at that time, the
extent Of German hatred toward the
French, who were only doing that
which they were entitled to do I'M
der the treaty of Versailles.
The hostility Ut the German gov
eminent could hardly be more
strongly pronounced than by the en-
couragement they are giving to
sabotage" and to strikes.
Germany, cut off from the Saar
Valley and the Ruhr, will have to
fall back on Silesian coal, and this
will be quite insufficient support for
German industries. In the end the
Germans will have to capitulate and
come to terms with the French and
Belgians.
The clause of the treaty of Yer
sai1les under which the French
claim the legal right to invade Ger
many 10 paragraph IS, annex 2, of
the Reparation section, as follows:
THE measures which the allied
and associated governments shall
have the right to take, and which
Germany hereby agrees not to con-
slider as acts Of war, may include
economic or financial prohibition
and reprisals, and in general such
other measures as the respective
governments may determine to be
necessary in. the premises
in case Of Voluntary default by Ger
many"
The session Of the Council Of Four
that adopted this annex was attend
ed by President Woodrow Wilson.
Clemenceau and Lloyd George.
Whether in the first instance the
French will obtain any money be-
yond the value Of the coal and coke
which they are Selling is open to
question, but in any case, the isola-
ton Of the Ruhr is a very forcible
means OF putting pressure on the
German government.
The British government believes
that, seizure Of the Rhur may not
be the best means of obtaining
money from Germany for repara.
tons. 1t il open to argument that
this view ig correct. But the rich
industrial magnateS Of Germany who
have grown rich while the German
people are poor and suffering are
being at last hard hit by French
operations.
There can be little doubt that the
French government is, by their
the frontiers Of France. They know
Germany, which already has 10000
900 nhRbitants, will in twenty years
time have about s0,00o,0 900, while
France with her decreasing popu-
lation, will then, IL things continue
as at present, have something like
$4,000. 900.
A war of revenge seems almost in
evitable in this generation unless
steps can be taken to avert it. In
the. treaty Of Versailles. which is
nowadays universally condemned as
bad, treaty, one of the most i'm
portant parts was the tripartite
treaty between England, France and
America.
England and America were bound
to come to the assistance Of France
In the event Of German aggression.
t. ia IT,
ment, but il not effective since
it was dependent upon ratification
by tho United States Senate. which
failed. It IL Q matter Of opinion,