Evening star., 1923-10-07
OXFORD .DEBATERS
DEFEATED BY GNU.
Local College Men Success
fully Defend French Oc-
cupation of Ruhr.

Holding that the French oecupation
OF the Ruhr valley is justified prfmar-
ity as an economic measure and that
unless Germahy is made to UNDER
stand that she must pay the repara-
tions under the Versailles treaty an
other world war is threatened, de-
baters representing George washing
ton University last night, by yote of
an audience which filled Continental
Memorial Hall to overf1owing. de-
feated the debaters representing OK
ford University of England.
George Washington University's
debating team, upholding the affirm
ative of the resolution, THAT the
action of the French in occupying
the Ruhr merits the approval of
this house." received 763 votes to
55s fer the negative, upheld by the
oxford University debaters.
Germany Is industrially and finan-
cialfy able to pay her reparations ac-
counts. IS has been shown by nu-
merous financial transactions which
indicate the strength of her financial
system notwithstanding the deprecia-
tion of the mark. the winning team
Washington's team held, is chiefly a
psychological one in which Germany
must be shown by force, and not by
the "impotent" powers of tAe league
OF nations, that the Versailles treaty
must be carried out.
Charge Conspiracy.
To support it's point George Wash
lnston asserted that Germanys lead
ing inanciers were in conspiracy
with the German republican govern
ment to hammer down the mark in
an eHort to arrive at reputation
of her Indebtedness. They added that
French occupation of Germany's great
industrial area in the Ruhr valley
had resulted in definite results which
predicated a possibility of full pay
plent. Germany has spent more than
two billion dollars in paying German
workmen In, the Ruhr not to work
for the French. they claimed.
many has nothing with which to pay
the allies, pointing to the seizures
made by the allies, the heavy de-
mands made of her and met, and the
impossibility Of payment in gold.
goods or materials. Germany cannot
her exports more than balance her
imports. Against this claim George
Washington pointed out that for
twenty years before 1914 Germany
had an unfavorable trade balance.
Oxford claimed that France, by occu-
Of Germany is thus running her
chances and those of her allies of COL
Letting any part of the reparations.
placed at $4,000, 100000 by the repa-
oxford said, however. is not so much
opposed to the collection of repara-
tions as to the method used by
France In obtaining the end desired.
Oxford Is not anti-French. nor pro-
German. the British debaters said,
but Is rather pro-British.
Both Cite Statistics.
Statistics were cited by both sides
supporting their claims, with the
American debaters pointing to the
many millions OF dollars they said
had been sent out of Germany to
escape taxes and also to escape i'm
pounding of the money to pay rep
arations. Germany has boush. back
$50 ships seized by the allies, has
purchased $4,000 new railway cars
and has built or bought several thou
sand new locomotives within the past
three years. they said. pefhting out
these facts as evidence OF the funda-
mental financial prosperity of Ger
many,
France should have tried with
every peaceful means In it's power to
bring about payment by Germany
fore occupation of the Ruhr. char
acterlzed as an act OF force, was un-
dertaken. the Oxford debaters con-
tended. Failing this. France should
have appealed to the league OF ma
tions before entering into an action
which will undoubtedly arouse the
German people to q new hatred for
France. they added. The audience
was frequently. aroused to laughter
by sallies of wit and satire on the
part Of both sides.
]. D. Woodruff, G. A. Gardiner and
c.. H., O. Scaifs represented Oxford
University, while George Washington
Cleveland, E. L. Scheafer and P. e.
Barnard. William Mather Lewis. presi-
dent of George Washington Univer-
sity, presided.