Evening star., 1923-02-04

\n/ and every sinew brought
" into play. France and Ger
many continue their tre-
mendous tug Of war in the Ruhr.
But the center of the rope is being
cut, strand by strand. upon the rock
OF international finance over which 1t
IS dragged, back and forth, back and
forth. in momentary advantage.
When the rope fails both France
and Germany will be catapulted back
ward, with the battle inconclusive,
both exhausted and both left to
emerge from the situation which in
dustrial, financial and political con-
.f1ict today is creating.
Germany's money has fallen into
the almost absolutely worthless class.
Bales are distributed for the slightest
of necessities. With each increasing
move of the French to tighten the cor
don about the Ruhr and detach It
from the rest of Germany, the mark
goes to new unheard Of levels on the
international exchanges. Germany
has not only approached the abyss,
she has reached it. In so far as her
money is concerned. 1t is a question
whether a hundred years of conscien-
t!ous endeavor ever will bring about
equilibrium, and particularly IL the
fun results of the French adventure,
as predicted by statesmen and inter-
national experts finally are achieved.
Must Purchase Abroad.
Germany is placed in position
through French occupation of the
I;uhr, where if she desires to keep her
Industries going there must be heavy
toreign purchases. If her populations
are TO be fed in case of long drawn
out struggle food must be purchased
abroad to feed them. If Germany sup
plies even the barest necessities for
herself there must be some way of
obtaining the raw materials from the
'outsidc.
And Germany has no money. will
have no money with which she can
do business. after the final holocause
which is as certain as the sun rises
and sets
The French in large measure pre-
dictate eventual success of their en-
deavor upon their ability to bring
about complete chaos throughout Ger
many. They apparently care little
NnelneT NreEIndHy unueTSOeS
suffering if the first purpose, collec-
tion of reparations payments is ac-
complished, thing absolutely impos-
sible now that industrial conditions
have been made chaotic.
France, during the past week, drew
the thumb screw tighter amidst the
vocferous and almost agonized out
breaks from all over Germany. France
cut off the coal shipments to the in
terror. and Furthermore threatened
that if this procedure adid not bring
about desired results, she would cut
off Rhur products, thereby compelling
payment of customs on fuel and the
whole metallurgical output leaving
the Ruhr heretofore regarded as so
essential in the maintenance OF the
social and economic life of the Ger
man nation.
French Task Burdensome.
However. the French are finding
that the costs of the occupational
forces of some fifty-five thousand men
are growing burdensome. French in
dustries are handicapped as they are
not obtaining Ruhr coal at a cost,
credited on reparatiors, at about $3.50
a ton. a flow which. before the occu-
pational period, reached 10000 tons
daily.
There is increasing idleness in the
Alsace Lorraine regions, while 1t is
declared, unless the French purpose
succeeds and succeeds quickly, the
Industries of France will be seriously
Handicapped within the next three
months.
While this is going on the value Of
the French franc is swiftly falling.
The forced creation of a new currency
sn the Ruhr and Rhineland which is
declared very likely through the turn
Of events. will place upon the French
further financial responsibilities,
e hlch will not tend in the least to
| hriehten the value of the Franc
With industrial conditions disturbed
eud Ruhr coal cut off indefinitely
France eventually must import coal
from England at constantly disadYan-
tageous figures. Living costs IKE
wise are reported ascending in France
keeping pace with the falling franc.
This much must be said for the
French, they are courageous in their
cndeavor and though dissatisfaction
is found with Poincare, it is because
he has not been rigorous enough and
has not formally, publicly at least,
|'announced a program of even more