The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-08
NO HOPE SEEN OF.
GERMANY PAYING.
EXCEPT BY FORCE.
However, No Active Resist
ance Is Expected-Strikes
Observation-Disclosures
Seek Solution

WASHINGTON. Jan. 7.-Reports
from Paris on the agreement of
plans for carrying out the an
nounoed purpose of France. Italy and
Belgium to enforce collection of rep
arations from Germany are scanned
with deepest interest in Washington.
it appeared today that the Amer
leans had no indication that as yet
any hint had come from Paris to
justify the hope recently expressed
by Secretary of State Hughes in his
New Haven speech that forcible
measures in Germany would be
averted.
Dispatches from Berlin also were
of particular interest in SO far Is they
forecast the probable attitude OF the
German government and people in
the event of forcible occupation of
the Rhur valley by the French
All advices appeared to indicate
that the German government pro-
posed to meet the situation with
passive resistance only. The Ger
man attitude will continue to be. as
1t is understood here. that of protest
against the French action as an In
Justice, not only to Germany but to
other nations which would be ad-
versely affected by complete po-
litical and financial collapse in Ger
many.
Strikes Probable.
whether German workers in the
coal mines and industries of the Ruhr
region would work under French SUI
pervision is still to be determined.
The possibility of strikes and sim
liar military disturbances, which
would greatly complicate the situa-
ton, has not been lost sight of by
officials seeking to determine the
probable course of events.
1t is said in some quarters here
however. that labor disturbances are
not as probable as might have
seemed likely. The reason given for
this view Is that the French are I'M
derstood to have arranged already
for the payment of the workers IN
German properties with French
francs instead of greatly deprecated
German marks. The result, 1t has
been pointed out, would be that the
German workers upon whom presum-
ably any possibility Of success of the
French plan of PREPARATIONS collec-
tions depends, would be paid in cur
rency that has a very definite buy
ing power, and probably would not
forego the advantage in living con-
ditfons they would derive from that
circumstance. In this view or the
situation it is regarded as unlikely
that extensive walkouts would fol-
low formal French occupation of key
positions in the Ruhr which would
enable them to carry out their rep
arations program.
Seek Economic Solution
Efforts of American business in
terests toward an economic solution
of the reparations crisis worked out
independently of the governments
concerned may come to a more or
! less definties head here january IL.
when the foreign affairs committee
of the Chamber of Commerce OF the
United States will meet at the call
of julius Barnes, president of the
chamber to attend dinner in
honor of Albert Thomas, head OF the
international labor bureau of Geneva
and former French minister of mu-
nitions.
Less than a month later delega-
ton 200 strong, representing the
chamber and including a number OF
the men who will gather here to
meet Mr.. Thomas, will sail for Rome
to attend the second annual meeting
OF the International Chamber OF Com
merce. The American delegation
plans to visit numerous European
centers on it's way to Rome, and the
trip may afford wide opportunity for
informal discussion among business
men in various countries of the re-
parations crisis.