San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-21
Invasion Progresses Logical
ly and Without a
Hitch.
COAL MOVES WESTWARD
Allies Had no Alternative,
Tardieu De-
clares.
Ry ANDRE TARDIEU.

Copyright, 1928, by The san Antonio Light.
Paris, Jan. 20-The events in the
Ruhr are developing logically and
without hitch. Germany's resistance
surprised nobody here. For three
years she has Unanswered to avoid her
obligations. In 1920 she said she
couldn't pay. In 1921 twenty billion
gold marks were due, but then she
began appeals for moratoriums and has
kept il up ever since. She also de-
faulted on her payments in kind
Therefore when France, Italy and Bel
GUM decided to take up the gage, 1t
was certain that the Cuno government
would do everything possible to dodge,
especially as the cages seized are IN
the industrial districts and Cuno repre-
sents big business. Thus Belgium, Italy
and France have touched Germany's
sensitive spot, doubly sensitive since
Germany's economic system, but its
properties belong 10 those who actually
are governing Germany. y
Invasion Is Orderly.
The Franco-Belgian troop movements
to escort the engineers are being CON-
Quoted with extreme moderation. In
the beginning there was talk of an in
visible occupation, but l think this
would have been n psychological error
considering the German mentality.
Anyhow the nOn-French correspondents,
even those least inclined to be friend
ly, recognize the perfect behavior OF
the troops. AS the British minister,
MacNeil, observes, it is an occupation
quite unlike that which the Germans
carried on in Belgium and northern
France with so many yexatious yio-
lences and atrocities.
The working population continues
calm. The only conflict was at
BOchum, and it is noteworthy that
| the only victim was a foreigner. The
measures at first limited to the seizure
of the amount of coal not delivered
by Germany in 1922 has been extended
| as the passive resistance developed.
The German owners first agreed to
deliver the coal if they were paid for
it. The German government having
forbidden this under severe penalties
acquisitions became necessary.
May Take Mines.
Coal trains have been turned west
ward and the mine owners sent before
the court-martial. IL also has become
necessary for the Allies to exploit the
hdllOHul lOEtSlS lOE the DeUeIIL OF Ile
reparations commission and il neces-
sary the mines will be seized which
belong TO the PrusSian state.
That is all complicated and difficult.
But Germany willed it so. Two things
must never be forgotten in this con-
nection. Germany's creditors were
extraordinarily lenient for three years
and the Reichstag's president admitted
last year that his country had OBJ
tanned 40 per cent reductions over the
Versailles stipulations. In the matter
of the payment of even these re-
duced sums the leniency of the creditors
was equalled by the bad faith Of the
debtor. France, Belgium and Italy
really had no choice. They either had
to act or renounce payments forever.
The British plan of January 2 was
so unjust and clumsy that It only
emphasized the dilemma. In all L
can insist the events, which everybody
tried to avoid, have been conducted
with the strongest desire not to pro-
woke new complications.
Many Englishmen recognize this.
Furthermore nobody can doubt that
France and Belgium will finish the
task they have begun. They viii
take their time, of course. II the
Anglo-Saxon countries would employ
this time to reflect on the history Of
the last three years and searching their
consciences impartially. it would help
toward a better tOniorrow.